Steve Gross

Carl Stephen “Steve” Gross was born in Philadelphia, PA, on May 4, 1946, and passed away peacefully in Slidell, LA, on his birthday, May 4, 2022, at the age of 76. Considering his poetic personality and passion for numbers & dates, entering and exiting this life on the same date was a perfect ending. “MAY THE 4th BE WITH YOU!”

Steve spent his early life in Glover, Oklahoma, and his adolescence in West Monroe, Louisiana. He graduated from Slidell High School in 1965 and made Slidell his home. He was a custom carpenter and skilled craftsman, an aspiring wordsmith, teller of stories, and a photo and video enthusiast (specifically of his family and the people and projects in his life).

Steve battled with COPD and heart issues these last seven years and was thrilled to beat the medical prognosis life expectancy of four years. He valued and appreciated the love and communication of friends and family as he quarantined through COVID and beyond. We thank everyone who shared their special thoughts and remembrances of him on social media, in texts and voicemails. Beloved friends and family knew him to be “very talented, one of the good ones, of quick mind and wit, one-of-a-kind, colorful, a great man with a heart of gold, gentle and kind, and the keeper of family ties…” and more…

He is preceded in death by his mother Geraldine Swan Gross, biological father George Schuster, and adoptive father M.E. “Red” Gross.

Steve was especially proud to be “Bubba” to sister, Marci Gross Leonard (Don Leonard); “Dad” to children Niki Gross Strahan (Kevin Strahan) and Jay Gross (Cheryl Aucoin Gross); “Poppa” to grandchildren Jaiden Gross, Jacob Gross, Katy Rigol, Joe Rigol, Ashley Aucoin (Rob Smith), Kate Strahan, Ben Strahan, Jesse Strahan, and great grand-children, Kaiden Smith and Dallas Smith; “Uncle” to Portia Leonard (Josh Guillotte) and great uncle to MyaKate Miletello, AnnaMarie Miletello, Lorelei Guillotte, and Leonard Guillotte.

A Memorial Service will be held in Glover, Oklahoma, in early August. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Lung and American Heart Associations.