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Sheldon Gross, a lifelong Garden State resident and founder of his namesake commercial real estate firm, died Sunday in his sleep at his home in South Orange at age 94.
Born at Beth Israel Hospital in Newark July 2, 1928, Gross became a resident of South Orange shortly thereafter, staying in and around the Essex County municipality for most of his life, leaving to attend college at the University of Illinois.
He founded Sheldon Gross Realty Inc., specializing in selling and managing commercial real estate, in 1962.
Gross began his career in his father’s business, H.E. Salzberg Co., a transportation company that operated bus lines, railroads and the trolley that ran across the Queensboro Bridge before it was taken over by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
He also spent a short period of time as the owner of the Scientific Wood Cabinet Co., which made cabinets and wooden pocketbooks for women, among other items. It was after selling that business and its building, around 1958, that Gross pivoted to real estate.
What began as identifying an opportunity turned into a long career bolstered by his knowledge and passion for his home state. A commitment and pride the company’s logo – an outline of New Jersey with the letter “G” at its center – speaks to that devotion.
On LinkedIn, Sheldon Gross Realty described its “founder, friend and father” as “an icon of New Jersey’s commercial real estate industry,” adding “we’ll be forever thankful for all of the lives he touched, both personally and professionally. We will all miss him more than words can express.”
Gross was preceded in death by his first wife, Simone Lipton, his second wife of 55 years and his soulmate, Charlotte Gross, and his two brothers Richard and Peter Gross. He is survived by his children Barbara Gross Franklin (Michael), Jackie Gross (Stuart Siris), Jonathan Gross (Elisa) and Marcy Gross Glick (partner of Matt Ruggiero), as well as five grandchildren, Adam Goodkind, Lorah Goodkind, Travis Gross, Alexandra Gross and Jennifer Glick. He is also survived by his partner, Sheila Slutsker.
Funeral services will be held Nov. 9 at Bernheim-Apter-Kreitzman Suburban funeral chapel in Livingston at 11 a.m. Shiva will be at 321 North Wyoming Ave., Unit 2A, in South Orange Nov. 9 from 7 to 9 p.m. and on Nov. 10 from 5 – 8 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Gross’ memory to the Adam Goodkind NF2 Family Fund at the Children’s Tumor Foundation, designating the donation for the Adam Goodkind NF2 fund or to the United Cerebral Palsy Foundation.
