Robert R. Gross, III (Eta Rho) 1958-2012

Robert R. Gross, III, 54, of Bethlehem Township, died Wednesday, May 30, 2012, in St. Lukes Hospice House. He was the husband of Maryann (Salamone) Gross. They celebrated their 29th anniversary last June 19. Mr. Gross has been Superintendent of Schools in the Salisbury Township School District since 2010, and has been a member of the Adjunct Faculty at Wilkes University since 2006. After receiving both a B.S. and M.M. from West Chester University, he began his teaching career in 1980 as Band Director and Music Teacher at Garnet Valley High School. He later became Band Director and Music Teacher at Emmaus High School, and was appointed chairperson of the East Penn School District Music Department. In 1991 he moved to the West Shore School District in Lewisberry, where he served in various positions leading to Assistant Superintendent. He was Associate Superintendent of the Bethlehem Area School District from 2005 – 2008. He served as Superintendent of Schools in the Kutztown Area School District for two years until accepting his current position of Superintendent of Schools in Salisbury Township. Since receiving his Superintendent Letter of Eligibility Certification from Lehigh University in 1996, he has been pursuing a Doctorate Degree from Walden University. Mr. Gross held memberships in American Association of School Administrators, American Association of School Personnel Administrators, National Association of Secondary School Principals, Pennsylvania School Boards Association, National Staff Development Council, Pennsylvania Association of School Personnel Administrators, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, North American Educational Negotiators, and the Society for Human Resource Management. He also belonged to the Lehigh Valley Society of the Arts, Historic Bethlehem Partnership, and Friends of Music in Bethlehem. He was a member of Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Bethlehem Township, and the Knights of Columbus. Born in Fountain Hill, he was the son of the late Robert R., Jr. and Louise (Scott) Gross.

Survivors: Wife, Maryann; daughter, Katrina DelVecchio and her husband Adam of Wind Gap; son, Kyle R. of Wind Gap; and grandsons, Kyler, Dominic and Landon.

Services: A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, June 4, in Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 1817 First Street, Bethlehem, PA 18020, followed by interment in Holy Saviour Cemetery. Visitation will be 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday in the Pearson Funeral Home, 1901 Linden Street, Bethlehem.

Contributions: In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to St. Lukes Hospice, 1510 Valley Center Parkway, Bethlehem, PA 18017.

Published in Morning Call on June 1, 2012