On February 21, 1971, Sarah Elizabeth Gross was born to the late Robert IV and Dr. Cynthia Radcliffe in Newton, New Jersey. Her father, Robert, was an Indiana farm boy and a first-generation college graduate. Cynthia was a small-town Illinois girl whose family ran a successful early television retailer. Born and raised in Jersey, Sarah always proudly identified as a “Jersey Girl.”
Sarah spent her childhood in Lake Valhalla, New Jersey, where she thrived in school—even skipping a grade due to her exceptional aptitude. She graduated early from Montville Township High School in 1988, alongside a wonderful assortment of friends—the core of which were her much-cherished “Jersey Girls.”
She continued her studies at Mount Holyoke College, a renowned liberal arts school in Western Massachusetts. After graduating in 1993, she immediately seized the opportunity to work with her mother at their family-owned wholesale flower business on a farm in Bedminster, New Jersey.
It was in 1995, on a nearly empty flight to visit friends in Colorado, that she met Kevin Gross. Kevin, on his way to ski with friends, was instantly smitten. The two exchanged phone numbers in the airport lounge, and he called within days after arriving home—but if you asked Sarah, she always stubbornly maintained that it took him months. Kevin was captivated by this high energy, cigarette smoking, sports car driving allure. Sarah was a sight to behold, and once Kevin noticed, he knew he could never let go. Kevin and Sarah were wed on September 13, 1997, at Sarah’s family farm.
Kevin’s career soon brought the couple to Richmond, Virginia. They first lived in an apartment on West Grace Street in the Fan District. Sarah briefly worked with the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority, work she truly cherished. She then worked for the Martin Agency, helping to manage the Sprint account. The couple moved into their first family home on Kensington Avenue where, in January of 2000, they welcomed their first child, Benjamin Ewing.
In 2002, they purchased a historic “fixer-upper” home on West Grace Street. With its wrap-around porch and all its quirks, the Grace Street house is where Kevin and Sarah would raise their family. They welcomed their daughter Amelia Rae in May 2002. Although Sarah was a talented businesswoman, nothing could compare to how incredible she was at being a mother. Home renovation projects, planning unforgettable family vacations all over the world, managing home finances, throwing parties on that beautiful wrap-around porch–there was no task that Sarah could not handle. With her “I got this” attitude, Sarah truly was the backbone of her family.
When her children began attending Fox Elementary School, Sarah fell naturally into volunteering. This would become her true career, as Sarah’s commitment to public education was second to none. She first volunteered with the Fox Parent Teacher Association, taking on leadership roles and organizing fundraising events. She cherished the Fox Community and all of the special relationships she forged as a Fox parent. She would often speak and write about the importance of public education and fought relentlessly against efforts to undermine it. Her commitment did not go unnoticed, eventually being elected to the office of State President of the Virginia Parent Teacher Association. It is here she would do her best, most rewarding work. She loved advocacy and would look forward to legislative sessions and lobbying efforts at the State Capital and in Washington DC. Often in full dress suit, she would ride her white Piaggio scooter downtown for meetings and sessions—she always traveled in style.
Sarah and Kevin shared a love of skiing, traveling, and boating on the James and Rappahannock rivers. Sarah had a special kind of wanderlust. It was not unusual to plan trips with only weeks to prepare. Over the years, Sarah visited China, South Korea, Bali, Thailand, France, Japan, Iceland, the Azores, Greece, and Croatia—just to name a few. She especially enjoyed sailing in the Caribbean, a beloved trip the family embarked on frequently. She was the consummate first mate and chef, happily serving up meals in the galley (including her famous breakfast sandwiches) and snagging mooring balls with ease.
Sarah had a unique combination of qualities. Her bold, fierce pronouncements proved that she was smarter than most and funnier than all. She could captivate any room, and did so regularly. But what was most special about Sarah was her sensitivity and ability to listen, to love, and to support. If you were lucky enough to know Sarah, you knew she was relentless—as a friend, an advocate, a mother, and a wife. She was self-aware and insightful, qualities that both Ben and Amelia have inherited.
Sarah is survived by her husband Kevin; children Benjamin and Amelia; her brother Robert (Ilana); and nephews, Leo, Asher, Bennett, and Judah.
