Gary E. Pleiss

Gary E. Pleiss, 68, of St. Petersburg, FL, passed away on Thursday, March 22, 2018, of complications from a stroke. Gary was born on April 19, 1949 to the late Mary and Evan Pleiss. He was a 1967 graduate of Easton Area High School, a 1977 graduate of Kutztown University with a degree in psychology, and earned a Master’s Degree in Organizational Management in 2000. Gary worked for Lehigh Valley Association for Rehabilitation Centers in Bethlehem, PA for 21 years helping individuals with various disabilities. He then moved to Florida in 1990. In his adopted home state of Florida, Gary was a Pinellas County Extension Agent in Family and Consumer Sciences and was Adjunct County Faculty for the University of Florida. Gary also spent time volunteering for the Literacy Council of St. Petersburg, teaching adult education for the county prison, and teaching classes for neighborhood housing services in home economics, personal finance, and mortgage application. Gary felt strongly about helping to keep his neighborhood safe by volunteering for the crime watch patrol. He was proud of working at the polls for every election. Gary’s survivors include his sister, Virginia and her husband, Michael Young of Pennsylvania, and his sister, Beverly and her husband, Michael Cook of New Jersey. There are also many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews who will miss Uncle Gary dearly. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to either the American Stroke Association or Suncoast Hospice Foundation.Org in Gary’s memory. A gathering of family and friends will be held from 3:30 - 4:00 pm on Wednesday, March 28 at the David C. Gross Funeral Home, 6366 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg, where a celebration of life service will begin at 4:00 pm. Another service will be held in Easton, PA on April 7 at 3PM at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, 3900 Freemansburg Avenue, Easton, PA. David C. Gross Funeral Home, Central Avenue Chapel in St. Petersburg is serving the family.