Richard J. Gross

Richard Joseph Gross, Ph.D., Akron, Ohio

Richard “Dick” Gross, 86, died suddenly on January 6, 2025, in Akron, OH surrounded by his wonderful and loving family.

Dick was born and grew up in New Kensington, PA. He earned his B.S.M.E. from the University of Pittsburgh and earned his M.S.M.E and Ph.D. in Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University. He moved to Akron, Ohio with his amazing wife Alice on receiving a job as a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Akron. Dick loved educating and was deeply engaged in The University of Akron’s Engineering program. He started the Zips Racing Program and was Faculty Advisor on it for over 25 years, until he retired. The Zips Racing program resulted in his sportswear collection that conveniently all matched tan Dockers, and he was able to retire his sweater vest collection. Dick was an active member of ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) and produced three engineers (out of his five children). The other two children were also successful but went into finance and retail, but we do not hold it against them. Dick loved teaching, investing in each of his students. He often took student calls at all hours, even during dinners, it did not matter, but most came the night before a test. He wanted everyone to succeed and did everything in his power to help anyone who needed it. He received many awards, one of his proudest was being the first recipient of the Outstanding Teacher’s Award for the School of Engineering (1991) and went on to receive this award more than once. He co-authored a book in 1985 “The Fundamentals of Fluid Dynamics” which none of his children read but were still extremely proud of, with the 2nd Edition released in 1992.

Dick was extremely active, playing tennis and running were important to him. He was president of the West Akron Baseball (and Softball) League (WABL), most of West Akron remembers the WABL parades around the Mull Ave. circle every summer. Leaning on his engineering expertise, he built the pitching machines used as the club could not afford them. He coached all his children’s softball and baseball teams, but none of them went on to be professional players. God was especially important in his life; he was a member of St. Sebastian’s Church since he moved to Akron, where all his children attended school, and he was a part of the landscaping crew in his retirement years until Parkinson’s got the better of him. 

Dick was married to an amazing woman Alice, for 58 years, who organized and managed every aspect of his life and knew his financial status better than he did. They had five amazing children, Terri (Rey) Garza, Mary Ann (Tob) Coss, Kathy (Konrad) Erdmann, Dave (Micki Dotson) Gross and Bill (Tiffany) Gross and eight grandchildren, Manny and Sevi Garza, Lily and Adam Coss, Bailey, Leah and Kendall Gross and Olivia Erdmann. His grandchildren loved him dearly. He is also survived by sisters, Maureen Smiley, Toni Jane McElhaney, brother, Michael (Darlene) Gross, sister-in-law, Judy and many nieces and nephews. Dick also had many friends and colleagues who admired him. He was preceded in death by his parents, Anthony Joseph and Mary Alyce (Healy) Gross, and twin brother, Tom Gross. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to either: St. Vincent de Paul Society, checks may be made out to St. Sebastian/St. Vincent de Paul Society and sent to: St. Sebastian Church, 476 Mull Ave., Akron, OH 44320-1299 or The Department of Mechanical Engineering/Zips Racing and checks may be made out to The University of Akron and sent to: The University of Akron, Department of Mechanical Engineering/Zips Racing, 302 Buchtel Common, Akron, OH 44325.

Family and friends are invited to the Celebration of Dick's Memorial Mass 11 A.M. SATURDAY January 18th, 2025 at St. Sebastian Catholic Church 476 Mull Ave., Akron, OH 44320, with Calling Hours starting at 10 A.M. Mass will be livestreamed on St. Sebastian's YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/live/FdxCoSE2TyQ?feature=share. 

Services in care of The Billow Funeral Homes and Crematory, 85 N. Miller Road Akron, OH 44333.