Alan Jay Gross

August 11, 1957 - January 7, 2022

After a long illness and a short fight with Covid, Alan Jay Gross, 64, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by love, and holding the hand of his wife, Nancy. He was the beloved husband and best friend of Nancy Creel-Gross and proud dad of Nina Gross. Besides his wife, he leaves behind his brother Richard (Cyndi), sister Sherri (Cleo), cousin Nancy Koch (Jane), cousin Steven Koch (Susanne), his aunt Barbara Koch, and other family members. He is also survived by many good friends, including his closest friends Woody and Sandy Hoyt. He is predeceased by his father and step mother, Howard and Renate Gross.

Alan grew up in New York City and Long Island. He earned a degree in Chemistry from SUNY Albany but was a curious soul and moved quickly to join the computer age. He started the Microcomputer Management Association (MMA) and began teaching investment advisors how to leverage computers in their work. After seeing what they were doing, he decided to join the financial world. Working at A.G. Edwards and Wells Fargo for over 25 years, he became a trusted advisor and friend to many families.

For Nancy, Alan was home, plain and simple. Alan was kind, thoughtful, funny and courageous. He was grateful for all that life brought him and loved his family and friends deeply. His pride and joy was Nina and he was happiest when he was with Nancy.

Alan was slow to anger but would move mountains if he thought an injustice was occurring. He took on the big computer companies in his twenties and started the computer association that made it possible for all of us to have easy access to software. When the elementary after school program was being cut, he rallied the parents and saved the day for the kids at her school.

He was patient and generous with his time and talent. Cooking for the soup kitchen, cleaning up the bike trails, being a Big Brother and snowplowing the neighborhood are among the many moments that stand out.

Alan could most often be found on his bike or with a camera around his neck. Nature was where Alan found God and his brook in Vermont was his special place. The kitchen was another special place for Alan and he was a fantastic cook and host. Wine was generally served as part of the cooking process.

Alan was a dog whisperer. From his first love ,Buttons, to his big girl, Jessie, he never met a dog that he didn’t love. That meant that when it came time to choose a friend for the little man Jett, he said, “let’s chose the dog no one else wants” and that is how the wild Choxie joined the family.

And, boy, did Alan love a good conversation and laughing with others. Even as Alzheimer’s made life harder, Alan was genuinely happy in the day and with the people he loved the most. Alan’s expressive eyebrows and big smile told you exactly what he was thinking. Alan would want you to share your love with the people you love in the here and now.

A celebration of Alan’s extraordinary life will happen in the spring or early summer. We will raise a glass of wine to Alan and tell tall tales of this wonderful bighearted man. Donations in Alan’s memory can be made to Best Friends Animal Society (Bestfriends.org) or the Community Dining Room in Branford (communitydiningroom.org). Please see his obituary @ www.wsclancy. com.