What better way to remember Pete Gross than with a radio-thon to raise money for his legacy?
The long-time radio voice of the Seahawks, and a member of the team’s Ring of Honor, died of cancer in 1992. His memory lives on in the Pete Gross House, a 70-unit apartment building for patients undergoing treatment at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, University of Washington Medicine and Seattle Children’s and their families.
Tuesday, 710 ESPN Seattle will hold an on-air fund-raising drive from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. during the Brock and Salk Show to benefit the House.
“It started out as a group of people wanting to do something to remember Pete,” said Steve Raible, current radio voice of the Seahawks and Gross’ former analyst on the broadcasts.
“We said, ‘Let’s see if we can’t get something like a duplex or a few units.’ It turned out to be 70-unit complex, and the first thing you see when you walk in his Pete’s face.”
Pete’s smiling face, because it almost always was – even through his own difficult and at times very frustrating four-year battle with cancer.
The funds to build the Pete Gross House were raised through a series of annual luncheons. Tuesday’s Ultimate Sports Auction radio-thon is replacing the luncheon and the funds raised will be used to help with the upkeep on the now 10-year-old structure.
“It’s hard to believe we’ve been at it for this many years,” Raible said. “But I’m glad we still are. What a great way to have Pete’s memory live on.”
During Tuesday’s program, callers will be able to bid on sports experience packages and autographed merchandise that have been donated. Callers also are being asked to make donations in the name of a friend or family member.
Raible will be part of the broadcast team for that segment, joining hosts Brock Huard and Mike Salk. Other guests also are slated to join them to offer their memories of Gross, who was a fixture at KIRO radio in addition to his duties as the Seahawks’ play-by-play man for their first 17 seasons.
One of the more poignant moments during Gross’ battle with cancer came after a 1989 game against the Bengals at old Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati. Steve Largent made his then-NFL record 100th touchdown reception in the game. Afterwards, in a hallway outside the locker room, the Hall of Fame receiver presented his jersey to Gross.
The look on Gross’ face was worth several thousand words, as he was first stunned and then reluctant to even accept the No. 80 jersey Largent wore on that record-breaking day.
“This is something I’ll never forget,” Gross said at the time. “I can’t tell you how much this means to me.”
The most hauntingly memorable moment of Gross’ ordeal, however, was his final public appearance. It was his induction ceremony into the Ring of Honor during halftime of a Monday night game against the Denver Broncos in 1992. Gross was so weak that it was doubtful that he would be able to attend his own ceremony.
But there he was, flanked by his wife, Beverly, and their three daughters – Debbie, Wendy and Susie. Gross delivered an emotional – and even funny – address that was typically Pete, as he thanked everyone else for what they had done for him at a time that was meant to be all his.
“My voice is a little short – like I am,” joked the 5-foot-5 Gross, a comment that drew laughs and smiles from those gathered around him at midfield in the Kingdome.
Former Seahawks coach Tom Flores says he remembers that night as if it was yesterday, offering, “I’m glad he was able to enjoy his final day. When a guy knows his days are numbered and he says it was one of the happiest days of his life, it makes you wonder.”
Gross died two days later. He was 55. But his legacy lives on, in the Pete Gross House and in the memories of those who were fortunate enough to know him.
As Largent once put it, “Pete is one of those guys that when you meet him for the first time, you feel like you’ve known him your whole life.”
