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GARY WAYNE GROSS
Date of Passing: Mar 01, 2013
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GARY WAYNE GROSS 1938 - 2013 On March 1, 2013, with his sister by his side, Gary passed into eternal rest. Gary is survived by his sister, Joy (Gordon) French; his nephew, Perry (Holly) French of Winnipeg; great-nieces, Caitlin and Kira, and great-nephew, Nicholas French; Gary's niece, Kara Leckman (Shane Hubick) of Calgary and great-niece Taylor and great-nephew Matthew Leckman, and many cousins. He also leaves many wonderful friends. Gary was predeceased by his mother, Emma in 1986 and his father, Paul in 2005. Gary was born in Winnipeg on July 3, 1938 and grew up in the North End of the city, with the exception of three years on Garfield Street, first on Boyd Avenue and later Inkster Boulevard. Gary began his musical education at age four. He was conversant with several keyboard instruments including synthesizers and pioneered in the area of computer synthesis in Canada. At the age of eight years Gary won the Eatons' Good Deed Talent Contest. His experiences ranged from performance to academia, conducting, arranging and composition. Early in his career he taught for the Saskatoon Piano House, the Edmonton College of Music, Harry Deeley's Music Schools of Winnipeg and the California College of Music. In Manitoba, he founded and operated a chain of seven rural stores and studios. During his association with Jazz musician and Educator Phil Nimmons of Toronto, Gary was a clinical guest lecturer at York University and at the inaugural Jazz Program at the Banff School of Fine Arts. Gary was a respected media musician and had long been involved in radio, television and associated media. Before moving to Toronto and living there for 30 years, Gary was very involved in the Night Club scene in Winnipeg. He played "Chans" in the Moon Room and was part of the trio called The Nocturnes which included Dave Shaw and Del Wagner, "The Towers - Town & Country" as "The Gary Gross Quartette" including Reg Kelln, Bob Erlendson and Harold Olson, "Club Morocco" with musician Al Sprintz and finally the Pan Am Lounge at the "International Inn" where he was part of a duo with singer and drummer, Aubrey Tadman. Gary moved to Toronto in 1968. Some of the venues in Toronto were "Julie's" Nightclub and The Royal York Hotel. Gary worked on many TV Specials and Presentation Shows. Among his many TV Series Shows he worked on for many years were Front Page Challenge, This is the Law, The Tommy Hunter Show, the children's show Friendly Giant and many more. He recorded 13 albums with Jackie Rae's "The Spitfire Band" (big band sound). Gary was also a patented inventor in the realm of audio encryption. In the 1970s, sponsored by Rothman's of Canada, Gary and his entourage, singers, dancers and musicians travelled to the Middle East, Cyprus, Egypt and Germany to entertain the Peacekeeping Troups. Gary moved back to Winnipeg in 1997 and in 2004 accepted a position to entertain on the maiden voyage of the Royal Caribbean Ocean Liner "Mariner of the Seas" with starting point being Turku, Finland. After docking in Florida Gary had to end his term of commitment due to the illness of our father. Besides music, Gary's other great passion was golf. He loved the game and excelled at it and was proud to have achieved a hole in one in his lifetime. A big thank you to his caregivers, Dr. Piotr Czaykowski and Denise at CancerCare, Olga his Palliative Care Nurse, the staff at Riverview and the Grace Hospice, all the wonderful friends who came to see him and who phoned him, and his dear friends, Vicki and Bob Reid of Toronto, who flew in from their vacation home in Florida to spend two days with Gary a week before his passing. A private family burial took place on Wednesday, March 6, at Brookside Cemetery officiated by the Rev. Kolleen Karlowsky-Clark. Pallbearers were Rudy Schoetz, Barry Smith, Harold Gross, Clifford Gross, Gordon French, Perry French and Nicholas French. A Celebration of Gary's Life will take place on Tuesday, March 12, 2013, at 11:00 a.m. at The United Church in Meadowood, 1111 Dakota St. with Rev. Shelly Manley-Tannis officiating. Reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, if friends so desire, donations can be made to The Winnipeg Humane Society, 45 Hurst Way, Winnipeg, MB R3T 0R3. NEIL BARDAL FUNERAL CENTRE 204-949-2200 www.nbardal.mb.ca
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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 09, 2013
Condolences & Memories (9 entries)
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It's been over a year and I still miss you more then ever. You were always one to light up a room with your classic smirk and hilarious sense of humour. I will never forget everything you ever taught me and told me. You have forever impacted my life in a way I shall never forget. I love you, rest in peace. - Posted by: Kira Mckay (Great Niece) on: Apr 08, 2014
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I produced a number of television series and specials for which Gary was the Musical Director. He was not only a brilliant musician, he was one of the kindest, sweetest people I ever met. To me Gary defined goodness and described what a friend should be. All of us who knew him now have a missing piece in our hearts. Goodbye old friend, we love and miss you. Ian Anderson - Posted by: Ian Anderson (Friend) on: Nov 20, 2013
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We love you Gary , see you on the other side, we want to hear more of your wonderful stories. I hear the golf courses over there are the best, have fun playing your favourite game. By the way you were the most wonderful piano player that I had the privilege of working with at the Royal York Imperial Room. - Posted by: Al and Franki Stanwyck (Friends) on: Mar 24, 2013
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Gary What can I say, We have been friends for over 50 years. You were one of two or three musicians in town that supported me, and helped me in my musical endeavors. If my memory serves me, I think you were the one that nicknamed me sticks, and when I showed up on a gig for Jack Shapiro's band with only one drum stick, you changed it to "Stick" We spent a lot of time together when I lived in Toronto. When drummer Aubrey Tadman took time off from playing at "Julies" You were kind enough to ask me to work with you and Dave Young even though there were so many better drummers. We also did many casual jobs together here in Winnipeg and in Toronto. All those "Fun" Grandstand shows in those small towns, and the time we worked together at the Morocco, although short, but very memorable. There are so many great stories of the time we spent together. I must remind you of one that we laugh about everytime we get together. I was working at a resort in Ontario at, and called "Prudhomme's" The place burned down, I took my life in my hands by taking many pictures of the fire, as soon as I got back to Toronto, The first thing I thought of was to rush over to your place to tell you the whole story. So with Camera in hand, I arrived at your door step. You suggested we drive down to the Toronto Star and sell them the pictures. As we were driving we both tried to come up with a dollar figure for those "hot" pictures. Half way there he suggested to unload the film to get it ready for the paper, long story short, there was no film in the camera. I think you reminded me of this every time I would get a little smug about something and we would have a great laugh about it, but at this time all I can think of is that I will miss you, dear friend. Rest, now, in Peace. Your friend Jim - Posted by: Jim "Sticks" McEwen (A drummer friend) on: Mar 15, 2013
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"A great person to have lunch with. Always had interesting stories, and funny ones too. His e-mails were not of the usual kind and will be missed. May he rest in peace. - Posted by: Len & Lorna Gross (Cousin) on: Mar 09, 2013
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So sorry to hear of our talented cousin Gary's passing. We are thinking of you all. Grand Beach will never forget the Deobald cousins......and all the fun that we had there. - Posted by: Mike and Pat Ingratta (Cousin) on: Mar 09, 2013
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Gary, Gary, you were truely one of a kind. I am so very proud to have known you and been considered a friend, later in your life. I will always cherish the lunches we shared and the phone calls. You can relax now hon and be at peace and pain free.Rest in Peace........... - Posted by: Rosalie Larcombe (friend) on: Mar 09, 2013
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Gary, Gary, you were truely one of a kind. I am so very proud to have known you and been considered a friend, later in your life. I will always cherish the lunches we shared and the phone calls. You can relax now hon and be at peace and pain free.Rest in Peace........... - Posted by: Rosalie Larcombe (friend) on: Mar 09, 2013
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A "Thanksgiving Prayer" for you my dear friend who always thought about others before yourself. Your stories, good humour, kindness and compassion to me and to Kas will always be cherished. To be absent from the body is to be present with our Lord. laba Pat - Posted by: Pat Siwik (Friend) on: Mar 09, 2013
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