Besides our great talks, loved Don's cameo during the Elmhurst Play Grease
(I think during the song "All I Need Is An Angel") where he swooped in on a swing wearing a white tux.  What a show stealer!!
Jim Turcovsky
Elmhurst 
PTA 

An amazing teacher I got to meet in 1993 because of my art class at Portage Middle School. A group of us were selected to go to Elmhurst on a field trip for art and there we met Mr Goss and his " new " digital " art computer software. I now do that as my career. He was an amazing teacher and person and in 2018 we had a 2 hour phone conversation about the Elmhurst history, his past students , and my time. I am glad I was fortunate to have that phone call. 

Don was a good friend and mentor to me for over 60 years. His family and mine were very close and I remember  being amazed at he and his family's endeavors at an early age. I had him as a teacher for several years and then as a colleague. We shared a lot of experiences together, including seeing Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young concert in Chicago right after Woodstock in 1969. Also saw Joni Mitchell and Rod McKuen that trip.
I have quoted him often with this advice he gave me. "If you can make a living doing something besides art do it.  But if something inside you says pursue art then make that your life."
Will miss you a lot and the discussions we had on the meaning of ART 

Rose (Miller) Eastes
Elmhurst 1965
I never had Mr. Goss as a teacher, but I truly remember the productions of South Pacific; Carousel; Bye, Bye Birdie and Finigan's Rainbow. They were my first introduction to the theatre.
My aunt had a Ming Tree that Don had made for her. I called him up last year to see if he could fix it...it had traveled from home to home as I moved. He fixed it, and when I picked it up, I admired his garden and Iris.
During my visit I learned my Aunt Stella Hagadorn and Grandma Clara Rupp and he had helped form the Fort Wayne Garden Club back in the 1950s. He remembered my Uncle Fred Hagadorn's dahlias and my Aunt Stella's gladiolas. He also told me he had done yardwork for my grandparents Irvin and Clara Rupp. I found out he had mowed the little grass more pine needles yard I had.
When my 10-yr-old granddaughter and I went back to pick up the iris bulbs I bought, he showed us the giant hosta...6 ft in diameter at the time...that was supposed to get even bigger.
When I told my granddaughter Mr. Goss had died, she was very sad. I asked her if she remembered Mr. Goss, and she said, "He's the man with the secret garden."
You were and are a bright light to many, Mr. Goss. 
May you plant flowers and put on musicals for all those who are in heaven!

I have known Don for over eight or nine years.   Each summer, I would drive from my home in Huntington, IN to marvel at his  immaculate  gardens.   He always took the time to chat with me about his many interests and gave me tips on how to care for tall bearded iris.   I was always amazed by his broad knowledge of topics.   He told me of his interest in theater, his trips to New York and Paris, and he would often show me his amazing work restoring antique furniture.   Like Don, I have quite a few hobbies and areas of interest . . . gardening, raising TB iris, and photography . . . to name a few.   Each summer, he would graciously allowed me to take photos of his iris and gardens.   I will miss Don and his beautiful flowers.   My deepest condolences  to you and your family.       
 Mr. Dennis J. Klein

To Don's family, I extend my condolences for your loss.  Mr. Goss, was truly an Elmhurst icon.  I am sure he died of a broken heart with the "death" of Elmhurst High School and especially the loss of the theater that he planned and saw to fruition.  I last saw him at the walk through for the building before it was torn down.  I was an EHS teacher colleague of his for seventeen years (1972-1989) and his brilliance was evident.  RIP.  Roma Jean Bradburn (Home Economics/Family and Consumer Sciences)

Mr. Don Goss changed the trajectory of my life in the best ways.  I was fortunate to know Mr. Goss for 34 years. During that time he was a teacher, mentor, friend, confidant and always a source of unwavering support.  I am grateful I got to spend an afternoon with him last July catching up on current events, taking a few photos (of course) walking in his garden and selecting some new iris plants from his family’s famous collection. I am devastated and heartbroken to hear of his passing.  I have tried to find some words to share, as I remember and honor him.  Briefly I’ll try to encapsulate how he changed my life.  When I was in eighth grade I heard about Mr. Goss and his nationally ranked and recognized photography program. I found my visual communication calling early on, under Mr. Goss’s guidance. He pushed me harder and further with new and challenging assignments.  He was famous for posing weekly philosophy questions.  He would ask his students “What is it? What could it be? How do you get to the next level? What will success look like?” questions that prompted creative thinking and problem solving.  These are the same questions I still ask regularly today.  As a young man, I couldn’t wait to take my next class with Mr. Goss. I was hooked and took as may of his classes as I could. My self-identity became tightly linked to being a photographer and computer graphic artist. I went on to work for the Associated Press, Reuters News, Discovery Channel and now am working with online training development with interactive video, games and simulations for the federal government.  All of these experiences built on the foundation started at Elmhurst High School in Mr. Goss’s classroom. For 54 years Mr. Goss made a difference for Elmhurst students. Having known this creative, enthusiastic, thoughtful and gifted man made all the difference for many of us. Thank you Mr. Goss for the path you helped me find.  
I will forever be grateful to you.
Shawn Miller, Class of 1988


I had the honor of knowing Don Goss for many years.  We first met when Lindley Elementary  had their talent show at Elmhurst High School.
He helped me out in the audio booth
and we stayed connected ever since.
He taught both of my children, Danielle and Mike.  We both loved theater and he asked to use my fog machine for several Elmhurst productions.  (He even fixed it when it broke)  We had many great talks over the years.  One lasting memory was Don swooping on stage as Teen Angel (Complete with White Tux) in EHS's  "Grease " production.  An amazing guy and a treasure for our community to remember always!

In balcony,  intermission of "An American in Paris",  July 2015.    

My family and I will very much miss Don on the East coast where he would visit us every summer, in Philadelphia and Brooklyn , NY.   We had great fun sharing Broadway shows with him. He organized the trips and was very generous in taking some of us along.  Many a lively  discussion would ensue about the shows, the sets, the actors, and any and everything else. We have been  very blessed by his friendship. 
Here is a picture of Don painted by the American artist Alice Neel in the 60s. He told us he met her randomly in the street in front of a shop window in NYC, they picked up a conversation and it led to him sitting for a portrait. She titled it Indiana Art Teacher.  Amazing portrait.

My deepest condolences to his family and community who obviously loved him as much as we did. 


I was never in Mr. Goss' class in school; however, I did have the great fortune to be around him because many of my friends were in his class, and I was able to assist him with set decoration at First Presbyterian Theater on their production of "Hedda Gabler".  What a wonderful experience learning about the terms for the different lighting and not just what they were called, but also why they were used for that particular scene.  We would go with Mr. Goss in his white Chevrolet pick up truck to different location in Fort Wayne to pick up items for the production and Mr. Goss would tell us all about the item and why it was important to the production.  On one occasion, we even picked up and old foot pedal operated pump organ from someone's house over on Fairfield, I believe.  I also learned of Mr. Goss' work helping design and screen print the posters for the annual Elmhurst Jazz Festival.  I would get the chance to listen to him while my friends were in the dark room finishing up their photos.  More importantly, Mr. Goss would always take the time to "listen" to me, and ask about my thoughts.  I was fortunate enough to talk to him at the final walk through and he remembered everything about the "Hedda Gabler" production like it was yesterday.  Even though it had been decades, he picked up right where we had left off - he was a always a friend to everybody.  I will miss one of the most talented, compassionate, and caring person I have had the pleasure knowing.  He may not have held any elective office, but he truly served his fellow humans.  
I saw a rainbow through the clouds on my way home from work this evening - somehow I know this was Mr. Goss painting the sky for all of us to see.  Rest in peace, good sir, and thanks for all the rainbows you made when you shared this mortal coil with us.

He was one of the most loved and respected teachers and left an impact on all he touched.


Mr. Goss taught me to love photography.  I remember my father buying my sister Karen and me a used single lens reflex camera for his class, my first Olympus.  My parents really appreciated him and knew that we should take his class.  They enjoyed our stories about his class.  I remember how competitive we used to be trying to get his coveted A+ written on the back of our photos. His class was the highlight of my day.  He was a true teacher - in it for all the right reasons.  I wish he had still been doing theater when I was there.  So happy to have learned with him!  

Class of 1983

Don Goss was a good friend and colleague.  I enjoyed all the time we spent together at Elmhurst, talking, and working around his yard.  My family had the privilege to know him as they helped with yard work.  Last summer was fun.  When Amy (wife) asked Don when the last time his gutters had been cleaned out.  Don replied,"Fifty plus years."  My wife, son, and laughed.  We were cleaning soil out of the gutters as old as us.  That man was a character and good to all.  His students and his school Elmhurst ment alot to him.  I will miss his Christmas picture, his stories, and laugh.  Rest in peace Don and put on some hum dinger plays in heaven "Teen angel."

When I came to EHS to teach Don was a legend.  That great HS was his life.  The arts, the theater was his legacy to EHS  & it’s students.  When I came in on Sat and Sun to prepare for the week, I would that he was there, working on the upcoming play.  I was privileged to move to a classroom two doors down and would stop in to talk to him.   RIP Don...I’m glad to have gotten to know you.  Condolences to your family.

Don Goss... the man, the myth, the Trojan. I never took visual art or photography in high school but I can remember having great conversations with Mr. Goss through the years. My last memory with him is during the final walk through of Elmhurst. He sat in his chair and watched, almost mysterious as to think to himself “I created this”. He was a great man and will surely and truly be missed by all who knew him. 

I would not be where I am today without Mr. Goss. I always knew I wanted to be a professional artist growing up, and the successes of the Elmhurst art department were a huge determining factor in my choosing to go there for highschool. Well, Mr. Goss WAS the Elmhurst art department and his passion for teaching and supporting his students was limitless. He was a teacher that expected you to improve your skills and your vision. If you were willing to do what he asked of you, there's no way you wouldn't get better. His encouragement led me to pursue art school for my undergrad and I've been a professional illustrator ever since. To this day, I still always hear him in my memory, telling me to see the "X" pattern of tree branches crossing each other.

Having been moved away from Ft. Wayne for some time now, I regrettably didn't get to see Mr. Goss very much at all over the past thirteen years. But we'd always send each other Christmas cards every year, and I always looked forward to the poems and photos of poinsettias he'd send. The man truly lived his life with passion and a joy for creation that is rarely seen in this world. Rest in Peace.

Elmhurst Class of 2006

Mr. Goss was Elmhurst High School. He cared about our community of Waynedale. There has been generations of students from this community who have attended Elmhurst High.  He had a passion for teaching and inspiring all his art students and to help fulfill their dreams.  I was fortunate enough to have him for my art teacher. He has inspired me to this day. I still have that passion for art. 
When some of us alumni students fought to help save our beloved Elmhurst High, Mr. Goss stood up right beside us to fight for justice and what was right. He even thanked us all for our support.Mr. Goss was a true Trojan. That meant the world to us when he thanked us all because along with him, our hearts are Elmhurst High Trojans all the way too!  His heart bled Trojan colors through and through.  God Bless you sir for being there and supporting us all. You will be truly missed! Rest In Peace!
D. McCartney ( Wittwer)


He was a close friend and neighbor to our family for many decades.  Mr. Goss was a benefactor and mentor to my brother, Ryan,  during his study and pursuit of his career in architecture.  He was a friend to my parents and grandmother, often stopping by to visit or gift them some of his amazing art. 

Mr. Goss was a pillar in our little neighborhood and inspirational gardener.  A true master and practitioner of his craft. 

May God Bless him. Our deepest condolences on the loss of this wonderful man and teacher!  

Mr. Goss was always someone who I always looked forward to seeing while I was out and about. I didn’t technically have him as a teacher, but he was always on the technical side of things when it came to Elmhurst Theatre. He had always seen something inside of me that I never did. He would always ask when I was moving to New York and taking the stage in a broadway show. Mr. Goss was a friend and mentor who always made himself available to talk or give advice about life or other passions. It was because of men like him that helped me truly find my calling in life. I would visit him during the summers when he was selling his Irises from his house. It was always a joy being around him. The last time I saw him was 2 weeks ago at the production of Once Upon A Matteress at Purdue Fort Wayne. He was upset because they didn’t use the birdcage he let them borrow. I stood there for over 10 minutes listening to him vent about it. All in all he will be missed. It’s incredible knowing that he was what Elmhurst High School represented. The final spotlight on Elmhurst has gone out, thank you for shining for us all of these years. I love you and I’ll see you again someday. 

they say that when the first one passes in a lifelong marriage,  the second one doesn't survive long.
l am sure this is the case with
Mr. Goss and ELMHURST
God rest you

Rick Ramsey 1964

I had Mr. G  (what we called him) 4 years of photography and 2 years of art. Yep, I was in his class twice a day for 2 years. I was in his class every semester of high school. He was one of the only teachers that really challenged me and expected me to push my potential. Mr. G   best teacher at Elmhurst.  Rest in peace. 
Jimi class of 84.

I had the experience of having Mr. Goss as my art teacher for 4 years while at Elmhurst. My freshman year he challenged me by telling me that my art was passionless. By my senior year he awarded me with The Golden Trojan award ( which eerily looked like himself in a Trojan helmet)  and I was nominated for the Sentenial scholarship for Art. He pushed me to find my passion and my creativity to make my art my own. He saw who you were through the your art and helped you to discover that for yourself. He will forever be remembered as an amazing teacher and confidant. I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to have him as my mentor. 

Loved Mr. Goss's Photography class.  Mom still mentions about the flowers he grew when we drive past his property.  He will be a missed treasure in our community.  Prayers for his family, friends and our community.

Mr Goss, "The Goss" or "The Don," as we fondly referred to him in the late 60s & early 70s brought life to my art. He was a fine teacher & a delightful man, generous with his talent and passion, & skilled in dealing with teens during that tumultuous era. I often remember him with great love & regard myself lucky to have been one of his students.   
Mardy Shaber
Elmhurst class of 1971


There is one regret that I have when I attended Elmhurst High School ... While I worked with Mr. Goss for the 1994 Spring Musical West Side Story and 1995 Spring Musical Carousel, and having great conversations with who I call the first ever Mr. Elmhurst Trojan ... I never had him for Art or Photography. 

Some would consider him a legend. Some would consider an icon. I consider him as Royalty. And heaven welcome Elmhurst Royalty. 

I always bought my cross  breed Iris flowers from him great man and neighbor you will be missed.

I had Mr Goss for my teacher in photography in the 90's....he was a wonderful teacher.....what a long life he lived. He gave so much to all of his students. He will be missed.

Mr. Goss as I like to say.. Don. Boss Da Boss Goss.. lol..well you taught my mom and my uncles at Elmhurst and I appreciate your presents wit me when I was there in your class 2006-2010 nothing but love old man as I say lol 

I had Mr.  Goss 2yrs in a row and he was a awesome teacher and a excellent listener.  He never gave up on his students, made sure they had the technique down packed... You will be truly missed Mr.  Goss... Condolences to the Goss Family 

Mr. Goss was an inspirational force in my four years at Elmhurst. He helped me realize I had talent and gave me the confidence to do something with it. I was fortunate enough to see him at the last walk through at Elmhurst and he still remembered me. He was the best teacher I’ve ever known. May god bless you and keep you Mr. Goss, Rest In Peace.

I met Don Goss when I was five. He was someone who I always saw with wide eyed wonder. He was a strong and brilliant man. The spot light goes down. And the set is struck. Alma mater Elmhurst high.  

I had the pleasure of working with Mr. Goss at Elmhurst. Every day he worked way into the dark.  He was always a pleasure to sit and talk with.  His passion and love for teaching went beyond nothing I have ever or will ever see.  He gave his entire life to education and his students.  I know there is an extra fluffy cloud in heaven just for him!

I remeber Mr. Gross i never had him as a teacher  but i would talk to him quite offten when i go to change periods for classes he was a great teacher at elmhurst i cant believe hes gone he lived a long life and graduated from elmhurst now our memeories from elmhurst live on but the building is no more i bet hes teaching up there on that thing called paradise 

I had Mr. Goss for Art, my Sophomore year.  I remembering making a 3D Christmas card (I thought it was a wicked cool idea)  
He was an incredibly sweet soul. Rest in Peace Sir. 

Mr. Goss was my photography teacher for my Senior year at Elmhurst. (1982-83)
Great.. Inspirational...Fun. Years later we would meet up at the Civic Theatre for opening nights. He still remembered me after all those years. Heaven is gaining a true  Angel today....

When I first went to Elmhurst I heard stories about Mr. Goss most of them were about him being one of the original people that went to Elmhurst after it was built and how he lived close to the school. He taught Art which by my Junior year he was semiretired and still worked on the school plays by then and he will be missed by all the students both past and present that graduated from Elmhurst. Thank you Mr. Goss for being a legend in Elmhurst.

OBITUARY

Donald "Don" C. Goss

20 March, 1931 – 12 March, 2019

Elzey-Patterson-Rodak Home for Funerals

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