Even a cursory glance at Richard Gross’s ministry record shows how strong was his commitment to institutions where Jesuits were rarely to be found. Though he taught and administered for five consecutive years at Boston College High School (1976-81), it was far less in comparison with the time he spent at Philips Academy, the storied and prestigious boarding school in Andover, MA (1981-92), including the year he studied secondary education at Brown University. Notably devoted to his BC High and Andover students, Richard kept up with many of them, presiding at their weddings and sometimes funerals. He was cordially remembered by Andover teachers and staff. From 1992-2002, Fr. Gross became pastor and Director of the Newman Center at the University of Connecticut at Storrs. Displaying his characteristically independent and adventurous spirit, he chose Belgium for a sabbatical year at the American College in Louvain. He then turned to chaplaincies at secular schools — Vanderbilt University (2003-06) — and Catholic schools, St. Thomas More School in Oakdale, CT (2006-11), Ohio Dominican University in Columbus, OH (2012-13), and La Salle University in Philadelphia (2013-19). To all of these assignments, Richard Gross brought his trademark self-confidence and buoyant spirit. He loved to travel and was known for “turning up” in unexpected place.
Even after the institutional assignments mentioned above ended in 2019 with the La Salle University chaplaincy, Richard continued to bring his high energy, enthusiasm, and ebullience to ministries in the Boston Archdiocese. Living at Newbury St. in Boston, Richard engaged in more individualized ministry. Among those ministries was presiding at masses at Maristhill Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Waltham, and celebrating important dates in the lives of friends and parishioners in various venues in the Boston Seaport. Richard was a welcome visitor and guest to his Jesuit acquaintances eager to hear about what he was currently engaged in. His datebook was always filled and he did not mind carrying over canceled meetings to the next month.
Richard K. Gross was born on August 14, 1944 in Wrentham MA, one of seven children born to Harry Gross and Ethelreda (Swan) Gross. He is survived by his three sisters Joan, June, and Patty, and predeceased by his brothers Donald, Eugene and Jerome. Throughout his life, Richard was extremely devoted to his sisters, taking them to lunch almost monthly, attentive to their declining health. Richard attended King Philip High School in Wrentham (1958-62) and Boston College, graduating from BC in 1966 with an A.B. in History. After college, Richard entered the Society of Jesus, doing his novitiate and juniorate years at Shadowbrook in Lenox, MA, and his philosophy at Weston College. During his regency, he taught history and social sciences at BC High (1969-72); during that time, somewhat surprisingly, he spent a year at the London School of Economics where he earned an M.A. in history. Returning to the United States, he earned an M.Div. in theology at Weston Jesuit School of Theology at that time in Cambridge, MA (1973-77); during his last year of theology (1977) he was also Director of Communication at BC High. Ordained in 1976 by Bishop Timothy Harrington in Worcester, Richard’s first priestly assignment was the already-mentioned five-year stint at BC High as religion teacher and spiritual counselor. Those  five years (1976-81) turned out to be his final years teaching at a Jesuit high school. From that point on, Fr. Gross engaged in educational ministries elsewhere for which he is most commonly remembered by his friends and his fellow Jesuits.
In his late seventies, Richard returned to the BC High Jesuit community for the years 2023-2025, the place where he had started out in 1968. Residing at BC High, he continued his pastoral work.
Fr. Gross died tragically on January 20, 2025, while preparing to embark on a cruise in Málaga, Spain to serve as chaplain.
