Robert Ross

Obituary of Robert Ross Robert Ross, age 86, of Leesburg, Florida, died Friday, May 27, 2016 at Lakeview Terrace, Altoona, FL, following an extended illness. Mr. Ross was born on December 30, 1929, to William Frances Ross and Elizabeth Hulla Ross in Chicago, IL. After graduating the University of Illinois with a B.S. in Accountancy, Mr. Ross entered active service in the US Army and married the love of his life, Ruth Alberta MacRae, on May 6, 1951, in Detroit, MI. Following two years active and five years reserve service, he was honorably discharged in 1957. In the years afterward, Mr. Ross worked in retail management, construction management with his father-in-law, Albert MacRae, and then shifted to the investment field, becoming broker-manager of the Detroit branch of Baker Simon & Co. When E.F. Hutton & Co. purchased Baker Simon in the 1960s, they quickly recognized Mr. Ross's outsized potential and moved him to their Wall St. headquarters in New York. He soon rose to Treasurer and Sr. Vice President, retiring in 1989 and permanently relocating his residence from Morristown, NJ, to Leesburg, FL. Demonstrating a life-long love of learning, through self-study and a remarkable capacity for self-discipline and persistence, Mr. Ross became a skilled master of many crafts, including woodworking, furniture making, auto repair, sewing, videography, photography, and gardening, to name a few. His greatest passion was food preparation, exhibiting true giftness in every aspect of culinary arts during the evolution of American cuisine in the 1960s and 70s. In his later life, Mr. Ross enjoyed boating and fishing, cruises and group activities with social and service organizations such as the Elks and Moose clubs, the Pontoon Yacht Club, the Newcomers Triangle Boat Club and the Lake Wallenpaupack Yacht Club. He was a dedicated life-long member of the Republican Party. Survivors include two daughters, Marguerite (Peggy) Elizabeth Kinney and her husband William Lee of Washington, NC, Bonnie Jeanne Curzio and her husband Daniel Michael of Glen Ellyn, IL; one son, Robert Duncan Ross and his wife Diane of Old Fort, NC; nine grandchildren, Daniel Kinney, Maria Langley, Elizabeth Kinney, Erin Curzio, Kathryn Curzio, Daniel Curzio, John Price, Robert G. Ross and Timothy Ross; and one great-grandchild Shaun Price. He was preceded in death by his wife Ruth M. Ross and his brother William Ross. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Paul's Catholic Church, Leesburg, FL on Tuesday, June 28, 2016 at 8:30 am with Father Mark Librizzi, Celebrant. Memorials may be given to St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church at 1330 Sunshine Ave., Leesburg, FL 34748 or Cornerstone Hospice Foundation at 2445 Lane Park Road, Tavares, FL 32778. The family of Robert Ross wishes to extend sincere thanks to: The caring staff of Lakeview Terrace, Cornerstone Hospice, St. Paul's Catholic Church of Leesburg, St. Mary of the Lakes Catholic Church in Eustis, and the wonderful neighbors at Summer Wind, Leesburg.

Robert Ross

December 30, 1929 - May 27, 2016