Funeral Details

Adrian Walter Karl Gross

May 19, 1963 - November 21, 2025

SERVICE INFORMATION

Date and Time

Monday, November 24, 2025 at 10:00 AM

Service

Chicago Jewish Funerals
Skokie Chapel
8851 Skokie Boulevard
Skokie, Illinois 60077
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Clergy

By Family

Interment - Private

Shiva

Gross Dickman Residence
1310 Lee Street
Evanston, Illinois 60202
847.610.0348
Get Directions
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 5pm to 8pm

Minyan at 7pm

Memorial Contributions

Ocular Melanoma Foundation
1717 K Street NW, Suite 900
Washington, DC 20006
www.ocularmelanoma.org





OBITUARY

Adrian Walter Karl Gross, age 62

Beloved husband of Susan Dickman. Loving father of Lukas and Katrin Gross and stepdad to Gabriel, Amit and Noam Jacobs. Caring brother of Markus (Edith) Gross and Isabelle Schneiter. Cherished son of Walter and Elisabet Gross. Fond uncle of Meret, Elena, Eva, Marc Kristina and Shannon and great-uncle of Jaro, Ilian, Jet and Fiadh. Dear brother-in-law of Dory Dickman. Services Monday, 10AM at Chicago Jewish Funerals, 8851 Skokie Blvd. (at Niles Center Road), Skokie. Interment private. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Ocular Melanoma Foundation, 1717 K St. NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20006, www.ocularmelanoma.org. To attend the funeral live stream, please visit our website. Arrangements by Chicago Jewish Funerals - Skokie Chapel, 847.229.8822, www.cjfinfo.com


GUEST BOOK

We encourage you to share your personal condolences and stories of Adrian Walter Karl Gross below and we will share them with the family.
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Sending you and your family tender embraces.

Hector Huertas
November 22, 2025
Adrian was much loved at The Pot Shop where he threw and carved intricate pieces of pottery. We joked that he had to construct a custom guard around his wheel because his trimming threw off so much clay. And we marveled at his delicate touch carving away as much clay as was left on his fanciful "basket bowls." While carving he gave us a master class on fermentation, another of his passions.
Condolences and a warm embrace to his family.

Neal Stamell
November 22, 2025
My friendship with Adrian began at The PotShop and developed over many years as we sat across from each other for more than a decade. We shared many stories and much pride about our children and our relationships. Our friendship continued beyond the walls of the studio, and we shared various garden strategies and plants. Perhaps in the final act, we shared and coordinated experiences to the lyric opera. Getting to meet Susan and him there made our experience of the opera even more special. He was a lovely man, with a brilliant mind and a creative soul. He will be missed by very many people.

Jill Schoeneman-Parker
November 22, 2025
Husband of my loving cousin and beloved stepdad to her children.

Alana Nockenson
November 22, 2025
My sincere condolences to your family. Adrian was a delight to work with. I'll miss his quick wit and quiet warmth.

Beth Hill
November 22, 2025
In loving memory of Adrian, a witty, kind, warm soul full of love and appreciation for nature and all. He will be deeply missed.
Holding Sussan and the family in my thoughts and honoring his beautiful spirit.

Elinoy Lonke
November 23, 2025
Brother of my loving friends Markus, Edith, Meret and Elena.

Susanne Kiener
November 23, 2025
My remembering is back in the 60ties in Wengen. Thank you for meeting you as a child, me as a good friend of Isabelle.
I’m What you all are going through now-and what a long and difficult path you all leave behind. I wish you time and love. God will be with you.

Regine Zweifel
November 23, 2025
Adrian’s death will be an immeasurable loss to Rosalind Franklin University where he was the embodiment of world class science, teaching and noble university citizenship.
Michael Welch
Past President

Kenneth Welch
November 23, 2025
I remember a shared, unforgettable childhood in the same village, as neighbors and friends. We shared games, adventures, and school days. Through your sister and your parents, we always knew roughly where Adrian was and how his life was going far away. I wish the whole family much strength during this difficult farewell and send you all my love. Anna

Anna Alessandrello
November 23, 2025
My condolences to his family. I have worked with Dr. Gross for probably close to 30 years. Setting up his CMCB course for our students will never be the same. Rest in Peace Adrian.

Tamera Welbon
November 24, 2025
It is with profound shock and sadness that I share the news of the passing of our dear friend and colleague, Adrian. Though I was previously at CMS and am now in New Mexico, the memories we shared remain vivid and deeply meaningful. We all hold many fond recollections of him: a wonderful colleague, friend, and scientist. He was the first person I shared with the discovery in the electron density of the bent helix in a glucose transporter. He was also a remarkable teacher and a devoted parent; I often heard him speak with warmth and pride about Lukas and Katrin. He brightened our days with his humor, curiosity, and scientific knowledge. His absence leaves a tremendous void. Please accept our heartfelt condolences during this unimaginable time. Our thoughts are with you and your family.

Jun-yong Choe
November 24, 2025
I'm very sorry to hear about the loss of Dr. Adrian Gross. He was not only an excellent colleague but also a genuinely kind person. My warmest wishes and condolences go to his family for peace and comfort. Sending peace and prayers your way.

Neelam Sharma-Walia
November 24, 2025
Dr. Gross shared his love of education, love of planting even in winter time. I am thankful I met Dr. Adrian Gross in my teaching journey at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science.
Ligaya V. Marasigan

Ligaya Marasigan
November 24, 2025
Susan,
I did not know Adrian.
I met him once years ago when you two first met.

The story of your love and life together, painted a beautiful picture.
I got to know him a little bit through your words. He was extraordinary.

My heart breaks in a million pieces for your loss but I know you.
You are strong. You will carry on in his spirit and your memories will help to sustain you.
Love, Rhonda

Rhonda Popko
November 24, 2025
I remember when I was in 6th or 7th grade at secondary school and was given detention by my teacher. I had to solve mathematical equations with several fractions and variables. I didn't stand a chance; it was 8th grade material. So I called Adrian and an hour later I had all the answers, including the derivations. He's a brilliant guy. When I was 14 or 15, we went skiing together in Wengen on the Kleine Scheidegg. I'll never forget one day. We climbed up the Fallboden and got off on the right, where there was no slope. We traversed the hill. Adrian told me that the slope was nicknamed “oh God.” I knew why when I looked down. He had reached the bottom in two minutes, while I was doing somersaults in the deep snow. But that wasn't all. We took the Salzegg lift up, got off on the left, skied along the north face of the Eiger, and then through what we thought was deep snow to Grindelwald. The night before had been incredibly cold, and the snow cover had frozen. During the day, it was warm. I had to ski ahead to check whether he would break through the snow, as he was much heavier. What fun. And then... If only that stupid forest hadn't been on the way to Grindelwald. I cursed. In the early 90s (if I remember correctly), I visited him in Boston. We went out for dinner, Cambodian food. Indefinable stuff. I asked Adrian what I had eaten, and I still don't know to this day. I can only guess, and it still makes me shudder. We also heard a piece of classical music on the radio in Boston. I liked it very much. Within a tenth of a second, Adrian said: Rimsky-Korsakov, “Flight of the Bumblebee.”
He was a genius in so many areas, always helpful, warm, and cheerful.
Take care, my dear cousin, Uwe.

Uwe Merk
November 24, 2025
I first met Adrian at an ion channel session of the Biophysical Society meeting. At that time I was only tangentially aware of Adrian's work on potassium channels. Later, when I looked him up, I was surprised to find that he had done important work with the Nobel laureate, Rod MacKinnon. In his humility, Adrian had never thought to mention his time working alongside one of the World's great Biophysicists. As we both sought NIH funding in similar fields, I knew that Adrian was younger, smarter, and faster at grasping ideas than I was; so I often went to him for technical advice. He was always supremely generous with his time and expertise. Adrian had an eager interest in everything, and I can still recall him explaining to me the intricacies of solar panel design and why you could drive an electric car from Evanston to North Chicago in -20 degree weather and still feel warm. We will always remember him.

Henry Sackin
November 25, 2025
Häufig denke ich in den vergangenen Tagen an unsere schöne gemeinsame Kindheit zurück.

Einige Jahre war Adrian in den Sommerferien zu Besuch bei Ahne und Ähne in Weilheim und hat mit meinen beiden Schwestern und mir gespielt.... und fast jedes Jahr ist Adrian in irgendeiner Form aus Schusselei verunglückt und Ähne oder unsere Mutter mussten mit ihm zum Arzt. Einmal ist er die Treppe herunter gestürzt und mit dem Kopf unter dem Schuhschrank gelandet. Das Gesicht von Ahne werde ich nie vergessen, es war von Angst und Schrecken gezeichnet. Zum Glück hatte Adrian jedes Jahr einen Schutzengel im Gepäck und hatte sich nie schwer verletzt.

Machs gut Adrian - ruhe in Frieden.
Dein Bäsle Birgit

Birgit Junger
November 25, 2025
At Rosalind Franklin University, we were fortunate to have had Adrian as a colleague and friend. He was a lovely person of fine character, known for his deep and broad intellect, knowledge and curiosity, combined with kindness, sensitivity, love of family, and genuine care for others. I truly enjoyed working and teaching with him over the years. Sometimes, we’d encounter surprising (and not so surprising) divergences. For example, I found a certain poetic justice in our respective perceptions of time. Time perpetually challenges me, while Adrian had the precision and punctuality of a Swiss watch. Adrian once shared a curious fact with me, which I thought could explain the differences in our respective world views: in Switzerland, women did not get to vote until 1971.

Adrian’s passing is a sad and untimely loss. He will be remembered fondly and greatly missed - Adrian was a mensch!

Barbara Vertel
November 26, 2025