Louise Gross was born and brought up in New York City where her father worked for the National Refugee Service.  A cousin of Bert Vallee, she met him through her family and is one of his oldest friends.  Bert Vallee was a frequent visitor to her family home, and after he and Kuggie married, Louise Gross spent much time with them in New Hampshire, Montana, and Florida, and travelling abroad.  She has been involved with the Vallee Foundation from its inception.

Louise Gross was educated at Boston University (BA, MA) and taught elementary school in the Boston area before she got married.  After her children were grown, she went back to school and earned a Masters in Teaching English as a Second Language from Columbia Teachers College, and then taught at Lehman and the Borough of Manhattan Community Colleges of the City University of New York as an adjunct professor until her retirement.  She also taught in Mt Kisco, NY, and worked for Elder Craftsmen, Inc., a non-profit crafts training organization for older adults.  She loves to travel and is an avid music lover, attending many of the opera, symphony and other concerts abounding in NYC.