Judy Gross: ‘A devastating blow for Alan and our family’

Those were words expressed to the media by the wife of U.S. contractor Alan Gross, whose mother, Evelyn Gross, died today at age 92 in Texas, because of lung cancer.

“I worry that Alan will now give up all hope of returning home and do something drastic. Surely, there must be something President Obama can do to ensure the immediate release of Alan, “said Mrs. Gross.

Her husband, who remains imprisoned in Cuba since December 2009, was sentenced to 15 years for subversive activities against the Cuban state. Gross was not able to see his mother for one last time. The Cuban government did not give him permission to travel, and neither has the United States tried to negotiate for his release with the Cuban government, in spite of repeated public invitations made from Havana.

[Photo of Evelyn Gross]