A Grandfather's Second Chance
Steve Gross, a 65‑year‑old lifelong hockey player and referee from Syosset, New York, faced a daunting diagnosis in 2024.
Acute myelogenous leukemia threatened his career, but a timely bone‑marrow transplant from his son Jake turned the tide.
The transplant, performed at Northwell Health’s cancer center on February 28, 2025, marked the beginning of a long recovery that would test his resilience.
From Recovery to the Rink
By June 2025, medical scans showed Gross was cancer‑free, though his immune system was still rebuilding.
In November 2025, he laced up his referee’s whistle again, stepping back onto the ice to the cheers of a community that had stood by him.
The milestone coincided with his first Father’s Day as a grandfather, a role he embraced after Jake welcomed a child in late January.
Gross joined the ranks of more than 18 million cancer survivors in the United States, a testament to the power of early detection and family support.
A Community United
Beyond his immediate family, the story resonated with local sports figures, including New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox, who publicly praised Gross’s perseverance.
Northwell Health and its Cancer Institute provided the expertise and care that made the transplant possible, underscoring the importance of specialized cancer centers.
As National Cancer Survivors Month unfolds in June, Gross’s journey adds a personal voice to the broader narrative of hope and recovery.