He gave us a run for our money

Longtime Daily News personal-finance columnist Harry Gross wrote this as his farewell column. It appeared in the newspaper on Nov. 14, 2015.

FOR MORE THAN a half-century, I have been preaching the virtue of wearing out, not rusting out.

Well, the time has come: I'm worn out. I no longer feel the gravitational pull and joy of writing my columns.

In addition, my family insists that 80 years of gainful employment is enough. So I'm retiring.

I've had some wonderful sign-offs in my adult life. Let me recount the major ones.

Teaching.I taught a CPA review course and continuing-education accounting courses for more than 33 years. Early on, I learned that teaching was the art of humorous simplification. I also learned that if you love your occupation, you'll never work a day in your life. I never worked a day. My M.D. stopped me when he discovered that I'd lose four to five pounds in an all-day session.

Giving blood.I've always believed that donating blood and organs are the only way you can give life as a gift. I was forced to stop three years ago after I'd given 17 gallons (that's 136 pints.) I later became chairman of the Penn-Jersey Blood Services Region of the American Red Cross.

University of Pennsylvania. I was the happiest guy in the world when I was notified that I had won a four-year scholarship to Penn back in 1940. Since my graduation (summa), I have been a very active and proud alumnus. I've been class president for what seems like a century. (Nobody else wants the job.) Both of my children and one of my grandchildren are also alumni. I am so very proud to have helped Penn's program of making sure no graduate has debt!

The media. I grabbed the opportunity to be a talk-show host when it was offered in 1978. I enjoyed more than 20 years with WCAU And WWDB. An invitation to write for the Daily News came in 1981. I cannot describe the satisfaction I received when I was able to help people who were in deep trouble. My relationship with other staff members was top-notch from day one. I shall miss them all. But after receiving paychecks for more than 80 years (not a misprint), I am worn out.

The love of my life! Any success I've had, economically and socially, is largely due to Helen. No praise is enough. Our two children have forced me to keep current across the board. Our four grandchildren (two M.D.s and two Ph.Ds) have always been challenging and loving. And on it goes.