Rabbi Marvin Gross passed away at age 72 on Tuesday night, Nov. 5, in Pasadena following a brief illness. Rabbi Gross is survived by his brother Richard (Roberta) Gross; sister Frances Schnall; his beloved children Tara Rangarajan, Daniel (Anu) Gross and Becky (Austin) Gross; and their mother, Lynn Winter Gross. Rabbi Gross is also survived by his three adored grandchildren: Ari and Eli Rangarajan and Anisha Gross, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Rabbi Gross was born in Evanston, Illinois, and was educated at Amherst College, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. After leading Temple Sinai in Glendale for many years, he became an executive of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles. In 1995, he was appointed the executive director and CEO of Union Station Homeless Services, a well-known provider of multiple services to the homeless population in Pasadena. He retired from there after 21 years, building it into the largest and most comprehensive provider of its kind in the San Gabriel Valley. Prior to his death, Rabbi Gross was active in a variety of social justice organizations in the Greater Los Angeles area.
Rabbi Gross was preceded in death by his parents, Jacob and Rita Gross, and his adored brother Howard.
Rabbi Gross was an avid sailor and since his retirement devoted his energies to immigration rights and mentoring executives.
Services were held Friday, Nov. 8, at Pasadena Jewish Temple Center, 1434 Altadena Blvd., Pasadena. Shiva was held there on Saturday, Nov. 9.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Union Station Homeless Services.
