Harvey L. Gross (The H Man) passed away on December 29 in New Britain, CT after a 5 plus year battle with cancer. When he was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer in December, 2009, one doctor gave him 6 months to live. Harv made it a point to prove that doctor wrong. He spent much of his adult life in the Capital District, NY with residences in Troy, Averill Park, and West Sand Lake. He was an incredibly loyal and hardworking General Manager for Monsey Products/American Seal Mfg for over 30 years. He was honored to work for the Mooney family and was able to call his boss, Ed Mooney, a close friend. Harv loved the art of making the deal and making sure his customers got the very best possible service available. Upon retiring, Harv spent some time working with American Saturated Felt while living in Florida for 2 years. Most recently, before relocating to Avon, CT, Harv was selling homes and making real estate deals with one of his dearest friends, Wally Bryce. Harv’s passion for his family was always a special thing to observe. His wife of 53 years, Joan did a superhuman job of caretaker in the last 5 years. Nobody could make Harv laugh like Joan. Harv was always proud of his 2 sons, David (West Hartford, CT) and Mark (Avon, CT). Harv knew his sons overachieved when they married their wives, Rebecca and Denise. Harv’s only grandchild, Benjamin could do no wrong in Harv’s eyes. Harv was incredibly proud of the person Benjamin has matured into. One of Harv’s greatest days was being at Benjamin’s Bar Mitzvah less than 4 weeks after undergoing major surgery in Boston in May, 2010. Harv is also survived by his sister, Judy Kaplan of Florida. Outside of work, Harv was very active—especially when it came to playing or watching sports. Harv’s passion was playing golf. He would finish a chemotherapy treatment and immediately make his way to Troy Country Club and later Farmington Woods in CT for a round of golf. Nobody loved or appreciated the game of golf more than Harv. He loved the competition, the outdoors, and the friendships the game of golf forges. A huge thanks to Harv’s golfing buddies-Charlie, Kevin, Wally, Terry, Gene, and so many others who were always available to play a round of golf and have lunch at TCC. Harv’s viewing passions were the Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Giants, Knicks, and Mets as well as Siena College basketball. Harv was a graduate of Washington Irving High School in Tarrytown, NY and Boston University. He worked for his father’s hardware store before making the move to the Capital District with Joan in 1966. Harv and his family were able to put together a dream team of doctors who deserve special recognition. The ‘dream team’ consisted of Doctors Dudek (Albany, NY), Hosmer (New Britain, CT), Chan (Boston, MA), and Mamone (Boston, MA). Harv’s surgeon, Dr Thomas Clancy of Boston was a person Harv felt a special connection to from when they first met in December, 2009. A heartfelt thanks to all of the other doctors and nurses (especially Nic’cole) at the Hospital of Central Connecticut in New Britain who have spent significant time with Harv in the last 10 days. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, December 30 at 10am in the Silberman Chapel of Temple Beth Israel in West Hartford. Interment will follow in the Beth Israel Cemetery, Jackson St. Ext., Avon, CT. Donations can be made to Dana Farber Cancer Institute/Jimmy Fund. 10 Brookline Place West. 6th floor. Brookline, MA 02445-7226. For further information, directions or to sign the guest book for Harvey, please visit on line at www.weinsteinmortuary.com/funerals.cfm.
