Dwight D. “Dan” Gross, 88, of New London, Connecticut, passed away July 19, 2023 peacefully while surrounded by his family.

Dan was born February 7, 1935 in Camden, Maine, where he attended local schools and graduated from Rockland High School. He was the son of the late Dwight P. Gross and Alice (Swazey) Gross.

He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1954, serving aboard the USS Sullivan during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged in 1958. While enlisted in the Navy, Dan grew to love the sport of boxing, which he was very good at.

After serving his country, he worked various jobs and had his own bands, Danny and the Gadabouts. He was an accomplished song and poetry writer, having three songs listed in The Library of Congress: “Little Pink House,” “New London Blues,” and “Shame Shame Eminent Domain.”

He was an eminent domain activist and an avid bird watcher. Dan was also a member of the National Audubon Society, and one of his poems was printed in the Society Letter in 2022.

While Dan resided in Connecticut for many years, he enjoyed long visits back in Maine with long time high school friends, Royce and Dottie, along with family.

Dan is survived by his wife, Gloria, of nine years; daughter Lori Clements and husband Rick, of Maine; granddaughter Lauren, her wife Kaylie, and their son, Finley, of Maine; granddaughter Sierra and her boyfriend, Ned; granddaughter Melissa, her husband Zane, and their children of North Carolina; granddaughter Kristina, her husband Scott, and their children of North Carolina; great-granddaughter Makenzie and her son, Kaysen; and many other great grandchildren, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. His son, Danny Tod, predeceased him.
 
Making friends with anybody and always having a story to tell, he loved pursuing his dreams no matter how “rebel” it may have seemed.

He loved playing games, as he always had a card up his sleeve. He loved performing passionate songs and telling rib-tickling jokes. Dan will be missed by the many lives that he shined in.
 
“We are all stories in the end, remembered by the adventures we had, the achievements we made and the people we loved.” – Nishan Panwar