Alex Jacob Gross

FUNERAL SERVICE: A graveside funeral service will be held at Crest Lawn Memorial Park on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at 11:00 AM.
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OBITUARY

Alex Gross, passed away July 5th 2025 surrounded by his loving family. Alex was born "Yankele" on September 18th, 1928. He was youngest son of 6 boys and one daughter in Polonok /"Polanka" in the Carpathian mountain region which was Czechoslovakia at the time. During World War 2, as a young boy, Alex and his family were taken by the Nazis from their home to the Munkacz ghetto and then on to Auschwitz by cattle car. He was immediately separated from his family and after Auschwitz, he spent time in Buna. He survived the notorious Gleiwitz death march, ultimately being transferred to Buchenwald where he was liberated by American soldiers in 1945.

After the war, he was reunited with all of his siblings, though sadly his parents did not survive. Immediately after the war, he and the two siblings that were closest to him in age were placed in an orphanage in England. At the age of 21, he immigrated to the United States, joining most of his siblings in Ohio and Pennsylvania. He and his brother Bill started a business building homes, but Alex took a leave of absence from the business to join the US Army during the Korean War to serve in the intelligence. He was so grateful to this country for welcoming him and giving him opportunities for success, that he was proud to serve this country.

When his military service ended, he returned to Youngstown, Ohio, and resumed his partnership with his brother. Shortly thereafter, he met the love of his life, Linda (neé Goldberg) and they were married in 1958. Alex and Linda grew a beloved family of four children. Alex and his brother Bill built their company, ALBEE homes into a thriving company with offices in over 14 states. Later, all of the brothers joined the business which became the nation's largest manufacturer of pre-fabricated homes. In the mid-70's, he and three of his brothers bought a large parcel of land outside of Atlanta. He and one of his brothers relocated to Atlanta to develop their property, Atlanta Suburbia Estates, into a community with homes, apartments, lakes, a golf course and shopping centers.

In Atlanta, he was an active member of both the Jewish and the civic communities. He devoted countless hours speaking to high schools, college classrooms, churches and other gatherings about his experiences in the Holocaust. What distinguished his story was his message of love triumphing over hate. The thousands of people who heard him speak were struck by his genuine positivity and warmth. His commitment to bearing witness earned him an

honorary doctorate from Emory University in 1995, of which he was incredibly proud. In 2001, he published his autobiography, 'Yankele,' which sold out its first print edition.

In addition to his speaking on the Holocaust, he was the President of Hemshech (a Holocaust survivor organization), a member of the Georgia Holocaust Commission, the chair of Israel Bonds for Atlanta, a board member of the Yeshiva High School, Café Europa Miami, and of The Shul of Bal Harbour in Miami where he spent his later years.

Alex was first and foremost a family man. He lived his life devoted to the wellbeing of his siblings, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren as well his many nieces and nephews who were like children to him. Just as he overcame the horrors of his early childhood, he overcame both the loss of his treasured only son Benji in a tragic accident in 1975 and the murder of his beloved Linda in 1983. Despite these devastating losses, he continued to radiate warmth, kindness and love to everyone he encountered.

He is survived by his wife Daisy Adouth, his three daughters and sons-in law, Etta Zimmerman (Raymond), Stephanie Weiss (Avi), and Robin Gross (Anthony Lehv), his grandchildren Leya Kaufman (Joel), Hannah Weiss, Eliana Weiss, Benjamin Lehv and Marissa Lehv and his great-grandsons Ezra and Theo Kaufman.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests supporting two causes that were near and dear to Alex, the Holocaust Memorial of Miami Beach or Café Europa for Holocaust Survivors