A Special Big Brother, Shirley Temple and the President

A Life of Heroes and Adventures

Survivor “Jo” Gross (written by PPSN Intern Olivia Harrison)

Jo Gross and Olivia Harrison

Josephine (Briggs) Gross was born in Deadwood, South Dakota, where she lived with her parents and her older brother (who she describes as her hero). She was diagnosed with Polio at the age of 4, and remembers very little of it, however does not feel as though she suffered with it very badly while she was sick. The disease subsided after about a year, and she went on to have a healthy, normal childhood.

Jo’s family lived within view of Mount Rushmore. They would go over to the “site” of it’s construction on weekends for family picnics. She can still remember she and her brother having lunch with the workers.

Her father worked as a banker. When all the banks in South Dakota closed during the depression, he was able to get a job and moved the family across the country to Washington DC. She recalls that finances were strained, but praises her parents for never letting her know just how bad their financial situation really was.

While moving across the county was hard for her, Jo made the best of her situation during her junior high years in DC. “My parents both worked, so my girlfriend and I would walk around looking for things to do”. She recalls becoming friendly with the guards at the White House, and they allowed her access the grounds (while fellow Polio survivor President Roosevelt was in office).

She remembers playing inside the public rooms of the White House, pretending to have tea with foreign princes. (They were careful only to “squat” over the furniture, pretending to sit, since it was against the rules to sit on anything). She recalled a specific memory of doing this, and suddenly feeling like someone was watching her. When she looked over, she saw President Roosevelt in his wheelchair, chuckling at her. Jo remembers that they spoke, but not what they spoke about, because she was too flustered !

Josephine Briggs had many adventures at the White House during her pre-teen years. In the early summer of 1938, Jo and a friend went to the White House hoping for a chance to see Shirley Temple. One of the security guards tipped them off that Mrs. Roosevelt and Shirley Temple were in the gardens. They ran into the garden, searching for them. They agreed to split up, and whistle if they saw her. She heard her friend whistle, and immediately ran in that direction, only to turn the corner and run straight into not only Shirley Temple herself but also Eleanor Roosevelt!

“How embarrassing ! I was so shocked I could not say a word.” They both fell down as a result.

Josephine Briggs attended Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, Maryland. She went on to study at George Washington and Townson State Universities wanting to become a teacher. She started out teaching 2nd grade, but went on to teach nearly all grades. 2nd graders remained her favorite because she liked to watch how easily children at this age took to reading. Her focus became Special Education.

Years later, through mutual friends she met her husband Max, and they immediately hit it off. They married and moved to College Park, Maryland (where Max was attending Graduate School at the University of Maryland). In addition to Max’s 4 children from a previous marriage, they eventually had 3 children of their own.

At the age of 35, Jo started to experience symptoms of what she later discovered to be Post-Polio Syndrome. Her legs started to become very weak. She considered Polio to be a thing of the past, and therefore never really thought that it had anything to do with her symptoms.

Years later, after talking with her cousin on the phone (who also had had Polio as a child and had been diagnosed with Post-Polio Syndrome), Jo realized their symptoms were the same, and then considered that she might have PPS as well. Her main Polio symptom as a child was weakness in the legs, and that same symptom had returned as an adult as well.

However, by knowing the explanation to her seemingly mysterious symptoms, and by working with doctors who are “willing to learn”, she explains that it is easier to deal with the PPS reality.

Jo and Max live in Pennswood Village, a retirement community in Bucks County Pennsylvania. She started an active Polio support group for the community. They which includes numerous members. called their group “Polio Plus” in an effort to include anyone with a physical disability or any chronic longterm issue. The group now meets the first Monday of each month. They consult each other regarding medical care, and share their symptoms and life experiences.

Jo (Briggs) Gross is a proud grandmother of 10 grandchildren. She has lived an extraordinary life full of friends, family, and travel. She has traveled extensively with Max to many parts of the world, both on cruises and by plane, visiting scores of countries and seven continents.

Her life has truly been one of heroes and adventures.

**Editor’s Note: It is a privilege for us to be able to share such a history filled story. We were able to find more photos from the National Archives of not only the construction of Mount Rushmore but of Shirley Temple’s one (and only) visit to the FDR White House. See the November, 2017 Newsletter for more.