CAMDEN — Stephen Keith Gross, 96, of Camden, died Feb. 1, 2013, at Pen Bay Medical Center in Rockport. Steve was born in Camden Jan. 9, 1917, the son of L. Orville and Ruie (Fuller) Gross. He and his younger brother, Lester, grew up in a loving, supportive environment with full run of Camden and neighboring towns. Starting in his early years, Steve's love of nature and the outdoors remained a constant throughout his life.

He graduated from Camden High School in 1935 and received his Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from the University of Maine, Tau Beta Pi, in 1940. The next two years found him in Rochester, N.Y., working for Kodak. Hearing the call of his country, Steve served in the U.S. Navy during World War II in the South Pacific, rising to the rank of lieutenant commander.

Steve married the love of his life, his mainstay, Grace Lorraine Terry, Feb. 3, 1946, in Fall River, Mass. They moved back to Maine the same winter, landing in Brewer, where he went to work at Eastern Fine Paper Company. In 1958, they came home to Camden with four sons; a fifth joined the family two years later. Starting as a mechanical engineer at Knox Woolen Company, Steve developed a semi-independent product line that later became Best Felts in Thomaston. "Retiring" in the early 1980s, Steve never seemed to lack for projects or volunteer efforts, including the Camden-Rockport Historical Society, the First Congregational Church of Camden, Meals on Wheels, and many others.

Steve was an involved community member, serving on a number of boards and committees. Education was very important to him. He served on the Camden School Board when MSAD 28 was created, and then continued as a member of the Camden-Rockport School Board. His interest in the world around him was intense. He was a founding member of the Midcoast Forum on Foreign Relations, and was a dedicated attendee of the Camden Conference. A voracious reader, he particularly enjoyed books on history and current events — whatever he was currently reading becoming the inspiration for commentary and discussion.

His family was the primary focus of Steve's life. Over their 67 years of marriage, Steve and Grace attended practically every event that involved their sons as they were growing up, including sporting events, band concerts, chorus concerts, plays, and so on. This devotion to and interest in family continued in support of their 11 grandchildren. He also took a great deal of pleasure in spending summers with his children and grandchildren at the family camp on Hosmer Pond.

Steve was sadly predeceased by his eldest son, Donald Gross, as well as his brother, Lester Fuller Gross and his wife, Audrey Grassow Gross. He is survived by his wife, Grace Terry Gross; his daughter-in-law, Margaret Gross; his sons, Peter and his wife, Rachel, Kenneth, Robert and his wife, Cynthia, and Richard and his wife, Laurina; his grandchildren, Michele and her husband, Jake Metzler, and Laura, Rebecca, Sarah, Hilary, Jack, Kerry, Matthew, Stephen, Emma, and Andrew Gross; his great-granddaughter, Margaret Grace Metzler; a sister-in-law; and nine nieces and nephews and their families.

A celebration of Steve's life will be held Saturday, March 2, at 1 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of Camden. If desired, memorial gifts may be made in his memory to the Shields Mission Fund c/o First Congregational Church of Camden, 55 Elm St., Camden, ME 04843.

Interment will be held at the convenience of the family in Mountain View Cemetery in Camden.

Condolences, photos and memories may be shared with the Gross family by visiting their book of memories at www.longfuneralhomecamden.com.

Arrangements are with Long Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Camden.