2020 -- H 8182

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LC005537

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2020

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXTENDING DEEPEST CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF JAMES BARRETT ROSS,

JR.

     Introduced By: Representatives Tanzi, Kennedy, Lima, Canario, and Vella-Wilkinson

     Date Introduced: December 14, 2020

     Referred To: Placed on the House Consent Calendar

     WHEREAS, It is with utmost sadness that this House has learned of the passing of James

B. Ross, Jr. Better known as "Jim", he was married to his high school sweetheart, Ann Penney

Ross for seventy years, and together they were the loving parents of James Ross III, Scott Ross,

Alison Hunt, Andrea Ames, Alan Ross, Dana Kenney, Betsy Zink, Randy Ross, Mary Ellen Ross,

Marjorie Vorhaben, and Wendy Schultz, and the very proud grandparents of thirty-one

grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Ross was born in Perrysburg, Ohio, the son of Marjorie and James

Ross, and the brother of the late Richard Ross. At a young age, he had spent myriad hours at the

local library which instilled him with a lifelong love for reading and knowledge; and

     WHEREAS, During his high school years, Mr. Ross moved to Elmira, New York, where

he fortuitously met his future wife. He graduated from Harvard University with a degree in

mathematics, and earned the distinction of becoming the youngest actuary in the country at that

time; and

     WHEREAS, After a long and distinguished career in the insurance industry, Mr. Ross

returned to school where he earned a Ph.D. in Finance and subsequently taught at the collegiate

level for several years. At the age of 80, he once again earned a unique distinction when he

became the oldest graduate of the University of Rhode Island, upon receiving a diploma for the

eighth and final time for a degree in Classical Studies; and

     WHEREAS, For many years, Mr. Ross had been an active and integral part of the

Kingston Congregational Church as a devoted parishioner, and as a member of the choir and the

Finance Board; and

     WHEREAS, In addition to his family and academic pursuits, Mr. Ross was an avid sports

fan, and enjoyed basketball, tennis, golfing, boating, swimming, musical concerts, fishing and

picnicking with his family; and

     WHEREAS, James and Ann Ross enjoyed an enviable life together, filled with family,

travel, church, and hobbies, and the finest tribute to him would be a celebration of his wonderful

and blessed life. His hard work, generosity, sense of humor, and love of learning was an

inspiration to all and he will be dearly missed; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

extends its deepest condolences on the passing of James Barrett Ross, Jr.; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Mrs. Ann Penney Ross and Family, and

Marjorie Vorhaben and Family.

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LC005537

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