Robert E. Ross' Obituary
Robert E. Ross, 82, of North Fort Myers died January 4, 2017 at The Palms of Punta Gorda, Florida. Robert was an educator, hard-working father, world traveler, and U.S. Navy veteran. He was born Robert Emmett Ross July 28, 1934 in Oak Park, Illinois, to Harry C. Ross and Isabella Burns of Oak Park, Illinois.Robert served in the U.S. Navy during and after the Korean War and was stationed at bases in Guam, Kwajalein, and Japan. He met his wife, Kathleen M. Ross, at a church dance in the suburbs of Chicago. That night he noticed Kathy from across the room, and told his friend, Al, “that’s the woman I’m going to marry.” And indeed he did. After a short courtship, Robert proposed to Kathy, pledging they would travel the world together and have a big family. They kept their pledge, marrying on June 8, 1957, and beginning their journey with a honeymoon road trip to their first home in Berkeley, California. After their eldest son, Michael, was born, they moved to the South Bay, where they continued to have children every 18 months until they reached the lucky number 7.Robert attended San Jose State University at night while working at Lockheed Martin Space Systems, and eventually earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at SJSU. Robert had a quick and brilliant mind and a dry wit, and often served as a mentor to his colleagues and children. He later worked in the technology industry in the early days of Silicon Valley at Technical Medical Information Systems (later Technicon Corporation), which was a leader in medical information systems. He was a diligent and hard-worker, sometimes working two jobs to support his large family while still finding ways to enjoy his passions, like architectural design, traveling, and documenting his family and their travels on 16mm movies. He was also a high-fidelity enthusiast, loved sailing, playing golf, planning road trips, and hosting home movie nights with his seven children.In addition to working as a manager in the information technology field, he was an adjunct faculty member at the University of Redlands School of Business, Edison Community College (now Florida SouthWestern State College), and the University of Phoenix, touching the lives of thousands of students.He is survived by his wife, Kathleen M. Ross; his son Michael G. Ross and his wife, Lydia of Morgan Hill, California; his daughter Mary M. Ross-Gilbert, and her husband, Simon Gilbert of Palos Verdes, California; possibly his son Patrick F. Ross; his daughter Maureen C. Ross and her partner Tony Palmer of Cape Coral, Florida; his son Francis T. Ross of Groveland, California; his daughter Annie G. Ross and her husband, Johnny Callahan of Murrietta, California; and his daughter Sharon E. Ross and her husband, Rob Sullivan, of Topsham, Maine. He is also survived by six amazing grandchildren: Jonathan, Tyler, and Andrew Dubnicka; Harrison Gilbert; Isabel Ross; and Morgan Ross; and one great-grandchild: Brixtyn Dubnicka. He is survived by one brother, Richard Ross and his wife Rae-Ellen, and countless wonderful nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother Harry Ross Jr., and grandson Richard Gilbert.A memorial mass will be said in his honor at Saint Therese Catholic Church in North Fort Myers on January 11, 2017 at 11 a.m. Memorial masses said in Robert’s memory are welcomed.
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