Deborah Gross Green, 84, of Westport, died on Friday, April 24th, 2026, after a brief illness.

Born in Mt. Vernon, NY, and raised in White Plains, Deborah was the middle of three children born to Jack and Rita Gross. She was a graduate of White Plains High School in 1959 and went on to graduate from Mt. Holyoke College in 1963. She later received her Masters in Education from NYU and a certificate in Special Education from Fairfield University.

She began her professional career as an editor in the Psychology Department at the National Institute of Health in Washington DC. It was in Washington, D.C., where her daughter, Katherine (Kat) G. Curtin, was born in 1967.

She relocated back to the New York Metropolitan area and settled in Westport, where she married Edwin Green. She began her teaching career at Vitam in Norwalk, CT, working with students with substance abuse issues. Following that, she taught at Staples High School in Westport, teaching special education for over 30 years. After retiring, Deborah volunteered at Mercy Learning Center in Bridgeport, where she taught immigrant women studying for their GEDs. Deborah had an immeasurable impact on the lives of countless students during the course of her career.

Deborah was a loving mother, grandmother, and spouse – caring, adventurous, thoughtful, liberal, supportive, and generous. She truly immersed herself in the community of Westport, fostering many wonderful friendships through her participation in tennis, book clubs, knitting circles, and volunteering. Of her many volunteering efforts, Deborah was extremely proud of her work with A Better Chance of Westport, which provides educational opportunities to academically gifted and highly motivated young men of color, as well as Norwalk Grassroots Tennis and Education, a non-profit organization that provides tennis and academic support to underserved youth. She was a frequent patron of the arts, often spending her free time at Lincoln Center to watch performances of orchestra, opera, and ballet, or various art museums.

She is survived by her loving husband of 15 years, Lawrence Hirsch, one child, Katherine (Paul) Curtin of Rowayton, a step-son, William (Linda) Green of Telluride, Colorado, and a step-daughter, Theresa (Ettore) Cosentini of Uzzano, Italy. She is also survived by Lawrence’s children, Neil (Molly) Hirsch of Ridgefield and Michelle (John) Arnold of Noank. Deborah is also survived by seven grandchildren: Emma, Julia, Quinn, Tessa, Amelia, Sophia, and Matteo, and three step-grandchildren: Anna, Henry, and Jillian. She was predeceased by her parents as well as her two brothers, Steven Gross and Jeffrey Gross, her husband Edwin Green, and a granddaughter, Annie Curtin.

A celebration of life will be held at Abraham L. Green and Son Funeral Home, 88 Beach Road, Fairfield, on Friday, May 15th at 11:00 am. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to 

Planned Parenthood of Southern New England (345 Whitney Ave. New Haven, CT 06511), Mercy Learning Center (637 Park Avenue, Bridgeport, CT, 06604), or the Public Broadcasting Corporation of Connecticut (1049 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105).