Avrum M. Gross (February 25, 1936 – May 8, 2018) was an American lawyer who served as the Attorney General of Alaska from 1974 through 1980. Early life and education Gross was born on February 25, 1936, in New York City. He was raised in New Jersey and was a pre-college student at the Juilliard School for violin. He graduated from Amherst College in 1957 and earned his J.D. degree from the University of Michigan, before moving to Alaska in 1961. Career Gross worked for the Alaska Legislature, where he met Jay Hammond. He worked as special counsel on fisheries for the Alaska Department of Law before going into private practice. Hammond, who was elected Governor of Alaska in 1974, appointed Gross as his attorney general, though Hammond was a Republican and Gross was a Democrat. Hammond explained his decision to appoint Gross by saying "Well, I think it is the obligation to appoint the best legal talent available to fill position of attorney general. And to me Av Gross is right up there at the top, even his cohorts and colleagues agree.’" As attorney general, Gross helped establish the Alaska Permanent Fund and ended the practice of plea bargaining. He served as attorney general until 1980, before returning to private practice. Personal life His son, Al Gross, was a candidate for the United States Senate in the 2020 election. Gross died on May 8, 2018, from pancreatic cancer. References 1936 births 2018 deaths 20th-century American lawyers 21st-century American Jews Alaska Attorneys General Alaska Democrats Amherst College alumni Deaths from cancer in Alaska Deaths from pancreatic cancer Lawyers from New York City Jewish American people in Alaska politics Juilliard School alumni Politicians from New York City University of Michigan Law School alumni