Dave Gross
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- Category: Obituaries
- Created on Wednesday, 23 April 2014 12:50
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Former Sitka Fire Department Chief William “Dave” Gross II died March 16, 2014, at his home in Sequim, Wash., following a long illness. He was 76.
He was born April 30, 1937, to Zalmain and Charmain Lewis Gross. When he was 21 he started his first business, a small restaurant in Haines called Dave’s Place. He married Patricia Lammers in Haines, and during their 12-year marriage they had two children, William David III and Dorain.
Dave worked multiple jobs, from Fish and Wildlife stream guard to longshoreman. He was a volunteer firefighter in Sitka before working up the chain of command to paid fire chief. He was instrumental in the construction of a new firehouse, and was the first president of the Alaska State Firefighters Association. He also was crucial in helping to solidify the Good Samaritan Law in Alaska.
In 1980, Dave returned to the business sector, revitalizing the family business: movie theaters in Southeast. Under his leadership, Gross Alaska Inc. twinned the 20th Century theater in Juneau, the Ketchikan Coliseum theater and the Sitka Coliseum. Three years later he built the Glacier Cinemas in Juneau.
Dave was a well-respected businessman, and to this day the company is still family-owned and -operated.
Dave married his second wife, Suzanne Siedband, at Lake Tahoe, Nev., in June 1980.
Dave was an avid outdoorsman and hunter. He especially enjoyed spending time at his cabin at Chilkat Lake outside of Haines.
In his later years, Dave became passionate about classic and vintage cars, and was a member of the Sequim Car Club. He also was a member of the Skagway Elks Lodge 431 for more than 50 years, and was an involved member of the National Association of Theater Owners.
Dave is survived by his wife, Suzanne Gross; children William David Gross III, Dorain Gross-Stangeland, Kenneth Solomon-Gross and stepson Jeffrey Solomon; grandchildren Athena Alsup, John Gross, Autumn Gross, Meghan Stangeland, Nicole Stangeland, Shane Solomon-Gross, Zachary Solomon; great-grandson Waylon Alsup; and his constant companion Twitty Kitty.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the Volunteer Hospice of Clallam County 540 East 8th St., Port Angeles, WA 98362.
Thanks to the generosity and expertise of the the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska broadband department, Tidal Network ; Christopher Cropley, director of Tidal Network; and Luke Johnson, Tidal Network technician, SitkaSentinel.com is again being updated. Tidal Network has been working tirelessly to install Starlink satellite equipment for city and other critical institutions, including the Sentinel, following the sudden breakage of GCI's fiberoptic cable on August 29, which left most of Sitka without internet or phone connections. CCTHITA's public-spirited response to the emergency is inspiring.
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