Saddened Seahawks Won't Forget Pete Gross

KIRKLAND - The Seattle Seahawks will wear half-inch black armbands on the right sleeves of their uniforms for the remainder of the NFL season as a tribute to Pete Gross.

Yesterday, life without the popular radio play-by-play announcer began for the team and its fans. Gross died of cancer Wednesday night.

Coach Tom Flores was accustomed to seeing Gross waiting with a smile for him when Flores walked off the Seahawks' practice field.

"It's a very empty feeling when you walk off the field and expect to see him sitting there," Flores said.

Steve Thomas of KIRO radio was accustomed to having Gross call the station every morning at 8:30.

"It just won't be the same," said Thomas, 39, who will replace Gross as voice of the Seahawks, at least for the rest of this season.

Flores plans to adjust the team's Monday schedule so players and assistant coaches who want to attend the memorial service can do so. The service will be at 2 p.m. at St. James Cathedral, Ninth Avenue and Marion Street.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggested remembrances to one of the following cancer-related organizations:

-- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Foundation, Attention: Memorials, 1124 Columbia St., Seattle 98104.

-- Swedish Medical Center, c/o Hospital Foundation Office, 747 Summit Ave., Seattle 98104.

-- Cancer Lifeline, 1191 Second Ave., Suite 680, Seattle 98101.

Persons wishing to send cards or flowers are asked to send them to Bonney Watson Funeral Home, 1732 Broadway, Seattle 98122.

Majority owner Ken Behring said in a statement that the "entire Seahawks family is very saddened at the passing of Pete Gross. He was an inspiration to all of us. Pete will always be with us in spirit. He touched a lot of people."