Tom Allen Gross 73, of Wooster, passed away Sunday, December 14, 2025, at Brookdale Wooster.
He was born on July 22, 1952, in Cleveland to Richard and Margaret Geissman Gross. On July 17, 1976 he married Suzanne Zuchak. Tom graduated from Illinois Institute of Technology with a degree in architecture.
Tom was owner and operator of Gross Construction. He was interested in architecture and enjoy working with engines of steam trains. Tom was an avid reader, especially about the news and culture. Tom served the local community by being on several nonprofit boards. He was a good, honest family man and integrity was important to him; he was known to drop everything to help others. Tom was a member of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Wayne County.
He is survived by his wife Suzanne (who was his #1) children Scott Gross of Wooster and Leah (Eowyn Randall) Gross of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; siblings Robert “Gred” (Diana Donovan) Gross of Celo, North Carolina, John “Juan” (Peg Redinbaugh) Gross of Wooster and Kathryn (Luis Fernando) Arango of Wooster along with several nieces and nephews.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents and an infant daughter Teresa Sarah Gross.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, January 24, 2026 at 1:00 PM at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Wayne County, 3186 Burbank Rd., Wooster.
Friends will be received after the Celebration of Life on Saturday at the church.
McIntire, Bradham & Sleek Funeral Home 216 E. Larwill St., Wooster is assisting the family.
Memorial contributions may be in honor of Tom to the Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare 1900 Akron Rd., Wooster, Ohio 44691 or to the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Wayne County 3186 Burbank Rd., Wooster, Ohio 44691 or to the American Steam Railroad, 2800 W. 3rd St., Cleveland, OH 44113.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.mcintirebradhamsleek.com.
Tom was a wonderful gentle soul whose life was about doing good for society. What better legacy could you ask for? Rest in peace, Tom.
I found Tom to be honest , friendly and to the point . I liked doing business with him and Sue over the years. Our community is a better place having Tom involved in it in so many ways. You will surely be missed Tom !
Our condolences to the family.
Bruce ( Skip ) & Staci Seibert
We will miss Tom dreadfully. He was such a genuine person. He and Sue had joined our monthly Game Nights and hosted so many times. Everyone in the Game Night group is saddened by his passing. We became friends through our joint love of exercise at Health Point.
Our condolences to Sue and the family.
Tom was a brilliant and insightful person, generous with his time and talents. He was a good friend, and a great man. His family is in our thoughts and prayers.
Tom had a great sense of humor. He was honest and kind. We will always remember the time, talents, and efforts he donated to our church. He will be missed by many. Our condolences to Sue and his family.
Yoga is not the same without Tom. He was such a sweet soul. My heart goes out to you Sue and your family.
Tom was a very, very nice (yet funny) classmate. I have good memories of him thru the years.
I found out about Tom’s passing when singing locally with a member of the UU Church. I have to admit, the news made me sad to my core. All I could think about was what a gentle, loving and intentional human being Tom was. He really made a difference in the world. And Sue and the children, I’m sure, are very proud of his legacy.
As Freshmen at Illinois Institute of Technology in 1970 Tom and I chose to become roommates in the dorms for our first few formative post-high school years, sharing our goals for our life’s journey through friendship and career paths. Never an argument and always supportive of each other. Later in life our group of IIT friends reunions brought us back together and he will be greatly missed. Best wishes to his family to carry on with good memories of a very good person.
Sue, So sorry to hear of Tom’s passing. You and your family are in our prayers and thoughts.
Sue and Scott, we are so sorry to hear of your loss and offer our deepest condolences. Tom and his lovely dry wit will most certainly be greatly missed. May peace and love embrace you both.
One of the smartest, hard-working, and kindest people I’ve ever known. I got to know him when working with him on a Habitat for Humanity project. That was an important program to him. He will definitely be missed.
As the Healthpoint yoga instructor, I had been blessed to start my day three times a week with a big smile and greeting from Tom, who routinely placed his and Sue’s yoga mats in the front row of class. His sense of humor was infectious and his determination in the face of his health issues was inspiring. He will be missed by all of us. Sue, my heartfelt sympathy to you and your family. -Mary Sue
Please accept my sincere sympathies in the loss of your brother, husband and father. Your family will be in my thoughts during this season of loss and standing close in the comfort of one another.
My sincere sympathies Sue Scott and family. I loved Tom’s sense of humor and his dedication and goal oriented drive. I worked with him on the membership committee at UU. and kept that friendly connection for many years. Being invited to the home was one of my most memorable highlights .
I also appreciated how he shared his life with the UU congregation when we used to have “Joys and Concerns “. I will miss Tom and keep him and the family in prayer
Ken McDonald
My prayers are with you all as you miss Tom. I know how much Dennis enjoyed talking with Tom.
My thoughts are with you.
Elsa Boen
I met Tom pretty soon after moving to Wooster. He built my office building off of Milltown road about 25 years ago. We had no contract only a handshake deal. He met and surpassed every expectation I had of him as a businessman and a person. A very kind soul and a big loss to our community. Prayers for his family.
It was 1976 when I first met Tom, it was a job interview, he hired me fresh out of the vocational school. As the years passed we became good friends. I was there as a witness of all the greatness tom had. Yes Tom would stop what he’s doing just to help you.he treated everyone as an equal . Just the best Person to be around . he retired in 2019 I was employed all those years because he is a leader. I will sadly miss Tom but won’t be forgotten
It is hard for me to think of Tom without thinking of Sue, Leah, and Scott, for together they fulfill my picture of a loving and caring family. I was so impressed to see their old home on Millersburg and even more to see the creative design and work they put into their new one. The same for Tom’s design and construction of the UU Fellowship, which was awarded a special Leeds award. I embrace you all.
I enjoyed working with Tom over the years. Prayers
Tom went to Parkview and I went to Madisonburg, but when we met at Edgewood, we became buds. Maybe not best buds, but good enough for us. We meshed over an eclectic love of “Man from U.N.C.L.E.”, photography, chess, Heathkits, audio equipment and trains (my dad was a charter member of the Ohio Historic Railway Society).
I could count on Tom’s honesty when we talked about serious stuff (mostly girls and architecture.) And we both had a slightly warped sense of humor that would leave us in stitches on the floor of their rec room and everyone else wondering what was wrong with us. Jointly, we would torment and tease his sister Kathy (for which I now apologize to her.)
I don’t know what caused us to go in different directions in high school. I know it wasn’t a fight because we never fought. But especially after my brother’s death, we just lost track of each other. I graduated early and moved around the country, losing track of Tom almost completely. My friend Jim Bird at UU would tell me about him when I was in town.
He was one of the good ones and is obviously missed by many. My condolences to his wife and family. Cherish the memories you have of him so that he lives on in your hearts and minds.
Tom was always so very kind, and always had a smiling face at the UU. I am deeply saddened to learn of his passing. My very deepest condolences to Suzanne and the family.
Grew up with Tom. Our neighbors across the street. Introduced me to popcorn and milkshakes for Sunday night dinner. Such a kind person. Lots of games of monopoly. He will be missed.
Tom was deeply loved by many in life…and will be sorely missed by many in death. Sue, may your memories sustain you through the grief. Love to you ….