Remembering Joseph Gross of Gross Electric
Joseph Alexander Gross, 60, passed away on June 3. Joe was born on Aug. 19, 1959 in Toledo, Ohio to Richard and Marion Gross. He was a 1977 graduate of Ottawa Hills High School and attended The Ohio State University. Joe began his career in the electrical industry sweeping the floors at Gross Electric as a kid. He worked in the warehouse through high school, then moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida for several years before returning to Gross Electric in 1982 to manage its Lima store until 1986. He then transferred back to Toledo and expanded the outside electrical sales division until 1997 when he became vice president. Joe was instrumental in making Gross Electric the premier family-owned electrical supply distributor in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan. It was also through his efforts that the company branched into the safety supply business in 2016, creating the G&G Safety Supply store.
Joe met his wife, Cary, 29 years ago at his 30th birthday party at Cedar Point. It was love at first sight. Their love continued through the birth of their three kids, Andrew, Emily and Jason. Joe’s life was centered around family, friends and adventure. Joe was his kids’ biggest fan; he never missed a tennis match, football game or a hockey game. He always put his family first, including his family at Gross Electric. It was a life mission for Joe to be present with everyone he met, giving his family, friends, employees and customers his undivided attention. Joe touched countless lives.
When Joe wasn’t on the Sylvania Country Club golf course with his longtime buddies, he was either popping a hull on his Hobie 16 with anyone willing to sail with him or picking out articles from the Wall Street Journal to share with family and friends, all while listening to music of course. Joe loved to travel, especially near the ocean and was never one to sit still, always seeking out kiteboarding, zip lining, skydiving and whitewater rafting whenever he could.
Joe was committed to giving back to the Toledo community. He spearheaded the donation of smoke detectors by Gross Electric to the City of Toledo Fire Department for many years. He volunteered his personal time to Meals on Wheels and participated in the Thanksgiving Day Parade Clown Corps.
Joe is survived by his loving wife, children and Poncho his beloved German Shepherd; his sisters Laurie Gross, Polly Collins (Dave Stroeh) and Marcia Miller. He was preceded in death by his parents.