Jason F. Gross

Jason was a kind and generous soul. He loved his friends and family. He loved to give gifts and was always there for a friend in need. His big, warm heart finally gave out on him on March 19, and we miss him already.

Jason was born in Omaha, Nebraska in 1972. He was adopted shortly after birth and loved immediately by Diane and Francis Gross. He attended St. Bernard’s Elementary School and graduated from Roncalli High School in 1990, where he made friends that he’d keep for the rest of his life. High school was also where he began a life-long passion for the theater.

Jason was a wonderful brother and son, but he took a special joy being a great uncle to his nieces and his nephews. He always had time to play Lego or stuffies with them, and would drive hours to get good fireworks for a show of his own choreography. What fun it was!

As a friend, Jason was fiercely loyal. He’d do anything to help a friend, no matter the inconvenience. He was emotionally there for so many people. And his favorite way to spend time was to take a friend to a movie or a play or a concert.

Jason worked for Marriott for his career, almost 35 years. It was more than a job for him, it was a vocation and a second family. He was close with many of his coworkers and he will be missed dearly by them.

When Jason was interested in something, there was no going halfway. He was all in. He loved the Olympics and that meant that he had to watch *all* of the Olympics, even when that meant having multiple VCRs going practically around the clock. He loved Crossroads Mall (throwback alert!), and he kept a photo album documenting every store as it opened. He loved Disney, and you can’t look anywhere in the house without seeing mouse ears.

Jason will be remembered by so many people for his kindness, his humor, his generous spirit, his fierce loyalty, and his lightheartedness. We’ll always remember the color he brought to our lives. We couldn’t have asked for a better son, brother and uncle. We’ll think of him every day, every time we see a movie, every time we go to the theater, and every time we are frustrated with someone in traffic. He’ll live in our hearts forever.

Jason was preceded in death by his father Francis and survived by his mother Diane, his brothers Brendan (Janet) and Ryan (Katie), his nieces Taylor and Elena and his nephews Mitch and Elliott.

 Memorials to St. Bernard’s Catholic Church. Donations to Omaha Performing Arts would be greatly appreciated.