April 1st, 1992 - 

Graham K. Gloss, former publisher of South Florida magazine, died on Monday at Deering Hospital in South Miami from complications of AIDS. He was 35.

Mr. Gloss, a native of Columbus, Ohio, was a 1979 graduate of the University of Florida`s journalism school. He enjoyed a meteoric climb in publishing before illness forced him to retire in September.

Mr. Gloss was hired by Scripps-Howard in the early `80s to work in the South Florida Business Journal`s advertising department. He quickly rose to advertising director, then publisher of the Miami-based publication, said Amy Lufkin of Miami, a friend.

Because of his success at the Journal, Scripps-Howard transferred him to another of its properties, the Los Angeles Business Journal, where he worked as publisher for about two years.

When Morristown, N.J.-based Micromedia Affiliates bought South Florida magazine in 1987, it hired Mr. Gloss as publisher. He also published the old Florida Home & Garden.

``The publishing world has lost an incredible talent,`` Lufkin said. ``He had a very strong personality that always left an impression. (But) love him or hate him, the industry respected him.``

``He was a man of extraordinary intelligence, intensity and complexity, who demanded absolute perfection of himself and everybody around him,`` said Marilyn Moore, editor of South Florida.

When Mr. Gloss wasn`t working, he was socializing at civic and cultural affairs. He was as much at home in a tuxedo as he was in his shirtsleeves.