Frank Gross
Encyclopedia
Frank George Gross, OMC (May 23, 1919 – January 13, 2006) was awarded the Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship
(OMC) one month after his death in 2006, the only Chatham-Kent resident to be recognized by the Government of Ontario
for humanitarianism
.
He had been well known in the Chatham-Kent region as a life insurance
underwriter, freemason, cyclist and philanthropist
mainly on behalf of the Canadian Cancer Society
.
Gross was born in Chesley, Ontario
, had lived in Listowel, Ontario until 1948, and established his residence in Chatham at 11 Stone Avenue in April, 1948.
, Ontario and Aldershot, England and trained in tank
operations. Rising to the rank of Corporal
, he served in England during World War II
as a tank trainer until his discharge on March 22, 1946. For war service, he was awarded the Canadian Defence Medal and Volunteer Service War Medal, both displayed in the picture to the right. Upon his return to Canada, Frank became a lifelong member of the Royal Canadian Legion
, Branch 28, Chatham.
Over the period of 1946-1956, Frank was a salesman for Fuller Brush Company
after which he joined London Life Insurance Company
as a life underwriter. He was President of the Kent County Life Underwriters Association in 1963 and was recognized for 21 consecutive years with the National Quality Award from the Canadian Life Insurance Association. Frank retired from London Life in 1983.
Lodge of Perfection and Rose Croix in 1958, and was distinguished with the Gold Honor Award, York Rite
Sovereign College of North America, for Outstanding Masonry on May 7, 2002.
Frank was recognized with the Outstanding Service Certificate for Contributions to Masonry and Volunteering, November 25, 2002, presented by the Grand Master
of the Grand Lodge
of Ontario. To celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Grand Lodge of Ontario, the Masonic District Deputy Grand Master for Chatham-Kent designated the 2005 fund-raising effort in support of Frank Gross for his annual Great Ride Against Cancer, raising $18,155.
Each year over 2006-8, the Parthenon Lodge provided to a local graduating high school student a cash bursary
named the Frank Gross Academic and Humanitarian Award.
From April until September, 2008, the Silver Ghost and a history of Frank Gross' charitable activities were on display in the Chatham-Kent Museum.
Beginning in 1979, Frank participated each year through 2005 in the Annual Great Ride Against Cancer held by the Chatham-Kent branch of the Canadian Cancer Society. By pledges received for his rides, Frank collected $83,584 from 2,622 total sponsors over these 26 years of fund-raising for cancer research and was the single largest fundraiser almost every year.
or Windsor
hospitals.
For these activities and his cycling on behalf of fund-raising for cancer research, Frank was recognized with the following local, provincial or national awards as reported by two Chatham newspapers:
on June 26, 1941. They had two sons, Philip Garth (April 18, 1947 born in Listowel) and Paul Munn (April 17, 1950 born in Chatham).
Following complications associated with cancer
of the pancreas
first identified on December 28, 2005, Frank Gross died at the Chatham-Kent Public Health Alliance Hospital at 08.34 on Friday, January 13, 2006.
Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship
The Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship is an honorary medal produced by the Canadian Province of Ontario. It was established by the Government of Ontario in 1973 to recognize people who, through exceptional long-term efforts, have made outstanding contributions to the well being of their...
(OMC) one month after his death in 2006, the only Chatham-Kent resident to be recognized by the Government of Ontario
Government of Ontario
The Government of Ontario refers to the provincial government of the province of Ontario, Canada. Its powers and structure are set out in the Constitution Act, 1867....
for humanitarianism
Humanitarianism
In its most general form, humanitarianism is an ethic of kindness, benevolence and sympathy extended universally and impartially to all human beings. Humanitarianism has been an evolving concept historically but universality is a common element in its evolution...
.
He had been well known in the Chatham-Kent region as a life insurance
Life insurance
Life insurance is a contract between an insurance policy holder and an insurer, where the insurer promises to pay a designated beneficiary a sum of money upon the death of the insured person. Depending on the contract, other events such as terminal illness or critical illness may also trigger...
underwriter, freemason, cyclist and philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
mainly on behalf of the Canadian Cancer Society
Canadian Cancer Society
The Canadian Cancer Society is a national, community-based charitable organization of volunteers whose mission is to eradicate cancer and enhance the quality of life of those living with the disease....
.
Gross was born in Chesley, Ontario
Chesley, Ontario
Chesley is a community in Bruce County, Ontario, Canada, located within the municipality of Arran-Elderslie. Its town slogan is "The Nicest Town Around"...
, had lived in Listowel, Ontario until 1948, and established his residence in Chatham at 11 Stone Avenue in April, 1948.
Military service and business career
Frank Gross was enlisted in the Canadian Army on August 8, 1942, stationed at CFB BordenCFB Borden
Canadian Forces Base Borden is a Canadian Forces base located in Ontario.The historic birthplace of the Royal Canadian Air Force, CFB Borden is the largest training facility in the Canadian Forces...
, Ontario and Aldershot, England and trained in tank
Tank
A tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities...
operations. Rising to the rank of Corporal
Corporal
Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
, he served in England during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as a tank trainer until his discharge on March 22, 1946. For war service, he was awarded the Canadian Defence Medal and Volunteer Service War Medal, both displayed in the picture to the right. Upon his return to Canada, Frank became a lifelong member of the Royal Canadian Legion
Royal Canadian Legion
The Royal Canadian Legion is a non-profit Canadian ex-service organization founded in 1925, with more than 400,000 members worldwide. Membership includes people who have served as current and former military, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, provincial and municipal police, direct relatives of...
, Branch 28, Chatham.
Over the period of 1946-1956, Frank was a salesman for Fuller Brush Company
Fuller Brush Company
The Fuller Brush Company sells branded and private label products for personal care as well as commercial and household cleaning; it is a subsidiary of CPAC Inc., which since 2007 has been owned by the private equity group Buckingham Capital Partners. Fuller Brush was founded in 1906, by Alfred...
after which he joined London Life Insurance Company
London Life Insurance Company
London Life Insurance Company is a Canadian life insurance company best known for its "Freedom 55" slogan, evocative of saving money to an extent that would allow one to retire at age 55...
as a life underwriter. He was President of the Kent County Life Underwriters Association in 1963 and was recognized for 21 consecutive years with the National Quality Award from the Canadian Life Insurance Association. Frank retired from London Life in 1983.
Freemasonry
Frank Gross was initiated into the Parthenon Lodge, number 267 of the Masonic Order, in Chatham, Ontario, September, 1949. He rose to become Worshipful Master of Parthenon Lodge in 1954, was nominated to the Scottish RiteScottish Rite
The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry , commonly known as simply the Scottish Rite, is one of several Rites of the worldwide fraternity known as Freemasonry...
Lodge of Perfection and Rose Croix in 1958, and was distinguished with the Gold Honor Award, York Rite
York Rite
The York Rite or American Rite is one of several Rites of the worldwide fraternity known as Freemasonry. A Rite is a series of progressive degrees that are conferred by various Masonic organizations or bodies, each of which operates under the control of its own central authority...
Sovereign College of North America, for Outstanding Masonry on May 7, 2002.
Frank was recognized with the Outstanding Service Certificate for Contributions to Masonry and Volunteering, November 25, 2002, presented by the Grand Master
Grand Master (Masonic)
In Freemasonry a Grand Master is the leader of the lodges within his Masonic jurisdiction. He presides over a Grand Lodge, and has certain rights in the constituent lodges that form his jurisdiction....
of the Grand Lodge
Grand Lodge
A Grand Lodge, or "Grand Orient", is the usual governing body of "Craft", or "Blue Lodge", Freemasonry in a particular jurisdiction. The first Masonic Grand Lodge was established in England in 1717 as the Premier Grand Lodge of England....
of Ontario. To celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Grand Lodge of Ontario, the Masonic District Deputy Grand Master for Chatham-Kent designated the 2005 fund-raising effort in support of Frank Gross for his annual Great Ride Against Cancer, raising $18,155.
Each year over 2006-8, the Parthenon Lodge provided to a local graduating high school student a cash bursary
Bursary
A bursary is strictly an office for a bursar and his or her staff in a school or college.In modern English usage, the term has become synonymous with "bursary award", a monetary award made by an institution to an individual or a group to assist the development of their education.According to The...
named the Frank Gross Academic and Humanitarian Award.
Cycling and fund-raising
Wearing his red cycling clothing and riding the only 10-speed road bike he ever owned—a 1979 CCM Silver Ghost—Frank Gross was a familiar sight on Chatham-Kent streets and roads over the period of his cycling years, 1976 to November 3, 2005, his last log entry of 11.75 miles. A careful keeper of records, Gross logged 89,829 miles or 145,523 km over his 29 years of cycling.From April until September, 2008, the Silver Ghost and a history of Frank Gross' charitable activities were on display in the Chatham-Kent Museum.
Beginning in 1979, Frank participated each year through 2005 in the Annual Great Ride Against Cancer held by the Chatham-Kent branch of the Canadian Cancer Society. By pledges received for his rides, Frank collected $83,584 from 2,622 total sponsors over these 26 years of fund-raising for cancer research and was the single largest fundraiser almost every year.
Community service and awards
Frank Gross donated his time generously, often spending hours visiting hospitalized neighbors, Masonic Lodge brothers, their family members or elderly friends unable to leave their homes. From 1994-2003, he was a volunteer driver for the Chatham-Kent branch of the Canadian Cancer Society, logging 243 trips and 33,824 miles or 56,374 km transporting a total of 409 patients in his own vehicle between Chatham and LondonLondon, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
or Windsor
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
hospitals.
For these activities and his cycling on behalf of fund-raising for cancer research, Frank was recognized with the following local, provincial or national awards as reported by two Chatham newspapers:
- Kent County Senior Achievement Award, June 16, 1995, from Hon. Michael Harris, Premier of Ontario, July 24, 1995
- Ontario Senior Achievement Award, Parliament Buildings, Queen’s Park, TorontoTorontoToronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, June 20, 1995, presented by Lt. Governor Henry Jackman - Canadian Red CrossCanadian Red CrossThe Canadian Red Cross Society is a Canadian humanitarian charitable organization and one of 186 national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies....
Society, Distinguished Humanitarian Award, July, 1995 - Certificate of Appreciation, Royal Canadian Legion, Ontario Command, Branch 28-Chatham, 1998
- 20 year Service Award, Canadian Cancer Society, October 29, 1999
- International Year of Volunteers, Government of Canada Medal, presented at Chatham-Kent Council Meeting, Chatham City Hall, December 17, 2001
- Ontario Volunteer Service Award, September 17, 2002, presented by Hon. Carl de Faria, Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration
- Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship (posthumous), Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration, Parliament Buildings, Queen’s Park, Toronto, February 7, 2006, presented by Lt. Governor of Ontario, James Bartleman
- Memorial Banquet and Community Partner Award, Canadian Cancer Society, May, 2006
Family and death
Frank Gross married Lilian Gladys Bailey (June 23, 1914 - September 23, 1994) of Brooklin, OntarioBrooklin, Ontario
Brooklin is a community in the Town of Whitby, Ontario, Canada. It is located,North of the urban area of Whitby,at the South junction of Ontario Highways 12 and 7....
on June 26, 1941. They had two sons, Philip Garth (April 18, 1947 born in Listowel) and Paul Munn (April 17, 1950 born in Chatham).
Following complications associated with cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
of the pancreas
Pancreas
The pancreas is a gland organ in the digestive and endocrine system of vertebrates. It is both an endocrine gland producing several important hormones, including insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin, as well as a digestive organ, secreting pancreatic juice containing digestive enzymes that assist...
first identified on December 28, 2005, Frank Gross died at the Chatham-Kent Public Health Alliance Hospital at 08.34 on Friday, January 13, 2006.