Harry J. Gross, retired Daily News driver and New York State Supreme Court Clerk, passed away at the age of 86 on Saturday August 6th. Surrounded by his family, Gross died in the hospital after a brief illness in Boynton Beach Florida.

Gross worked nights driving for the Daily News for over 30 years and as a court clerk during the day while raising his family in South Hempstead before retiring and moving to Florida in 1987. Gross quickly organized a "breakfast club" in Florida of retired Daily News drivers that met regularly for the last 24 years. A Navy veteran, he celebrated his 85th birthday last year by traveling to Washington DC to visit the WWII Memorial, spending hours touring the site, meeting other veterans. The family said he felt honored by the many civilians that thanked him for his service to his country.

Known to his family as "Papa", he loved spending time with the family, sharing stories and laughing so hard he would cry. A man of few words, the twinkle in his eye and his trademark grin spoke volumes.

Married for 65 years, Gross is survived by his wife Filomena (née Cifaldi), sons Jamie (Deborah) and Jeff, daughters Louise Potornai, Mary "Betty" Cole (Robert), Nancy Dunn (Frank), 14 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.

Services will be held at Boynton Beach Memorial Chapel from 4-6 PM on August 13th and 14th (boyntonmemorial.com). Funeral mass will be on Monday August 15th at 10AM at St. Marks Catholic Church in Boynton Beach with interment to follow at Our Lady Queen of Peace Cemetery, Royal Palm Beach, Florida. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Wounded Warriors Foundation or Disabled American Veterans Organization.