Ross and I went through Bradley Elementary, North Bethesda Jr. High and Walt Whitman together. He was a wonderful person. I am sorry to learn of his passing.
It's so sad that it took this long for the news to reach us. So many of us remember Ross from our classes since Bradley days. Sending (belated) comfort to his friends and loved ones.
Ross and I lived a few houses away from each other and went all the way through Bradley Elementary and North Bethesda together. We were in cub scouts in third grade for a while, and had meetings at his house. We walked many a long mile to NB together, lugging our music instruments.That was a time. I wrote to him a few years ago, right after he joined the Whitman website. He didn't reply. Now I know why. The message is clear - reach out to your friends while you still can. Goodbye, Ross, you were a good friend.
Ross was an active participant in our Freshman English class where Mr. R encouraged us to share our thoughts. While not close friends, we frequently talked to each before and after class. Ross was a likeable, easy going people person. It is comforting to learn, from his obituary, how he lead such a rich life as a teacher, coach mentor, family man, friend of animals and active church member.
I look foreward to seeing you again, Ross, at the great Whitman reunion in the Sky.
I'm sorry to hear about his death. He seemed to have lived his life well and served the community. We are getting older but I had hoped that as a group we would be living longer.
Ross was a memorable part of my childhool. He introduced me to the Houston Oilers football team in 1960 (their first year in the Americal Football Conference) and we enjoyed watching Wilt Chamberlin play for the Philadelphia 76ers. Although our sports together was limited to kickball and playing "Horse" at the "low" basket located on the upper blacktop at Bradley Elementary. (We were too small to use the regulation hoops.) Like the rest of us, it really hurts... and seems surreal... when we loose someone who was part of our childhood. It just doesn't seem possible but, it also gives us a chance to relive important memories. I'm going to miss knowing that you're gone my friend. Thank you for the happy times we had together. Wherever you end up, I hope they play kickball.
Ross was a defining influence of much of my Whitman experience. He and I dated and shared lots of good times during our junior and senior years, playing in the band, exploring Glen Echo Park, walking the tow path, drinking beer in Georgetown, and suffering together through the many losses of the Washington Senators baseball team, both on the couch at home and at the ballpark. I've appreciated hearing other people's memories of him. We didn't stay in touch after our respective freshman years in different colleges, but it is easy to recognize the familiar themes of his interests, enthusiasms and loyalties as I read of his life after high school. Sports, food, nature, family, faith. On each of the New Year's Eves that we spent together, he made a quick call from my living room right after midnight, just to say Happy New Year to his parents. Sweet. Rest in peace, my friend.
I was very sorry to learn of the passing of Ross. We lived on the same block and attended school together from fifth grade at Bradley, then North Bethesda Junior High, and then Whitman. Although we were in the same grade I don’t recall that we were ever in the same classes. However, after school for years we would ofgen play various games or sports in the neighborhood.
After college we shared apartments for a couple of years. At first we were in Maryland with a third roommate, and when he moved away Ross and I got an apartment at the Hamlets in Alexandria which in those days was popular with singles in their twenties. In time our work schedules and interests diverged. After I got married and moved out Ross relocated back to Maryland. We caught up a couple of times after that, but unfortunately the times were too infrequent. Ross was always a good and entertaining friend and I regret not looking him up on those occasions that I would think about doing so. As Martin said in in an earlier post, “reach out to your friends while you still can".
Lynne Vogel (Baronoff)
Ross and I went through Bradley Elementary, North Bethesda Jr. High and Walt Whitman together. He was a wonderful person. I am sorry to learn of his passing.
Lynn Williams (Jensen)
It's so sad that it took this long for the news to reach us. So many of us remember Ross from our classes since Bradley days. Sending (belated) comfort to his friends and loved ones.
Martin Murphy (Walter Johnson Class Of 1969)
Ross and I lived a few houses away from each other and went all the way through Bradley Elementary and North Bethesda together. We were in cub scouts in third grade for a while, and had meetings at his house. We walked many a long mile to NB together, lugging our music instruments.That was a time. I wrote to him a few years ago, right after he joined the Whitman website. He didn't reply. Now I know why. The message is clear - reach out to your friends while you still can. Goodbye, Ross, you were a good friend.
Leland Gamson
Ross was an active participant in our Freshman English class where Mr. R encouraged us to share our thoughts. While not close friends, we frequently talked to each before and after class. Ross was a likeable, easy going people person. It is comforting to learn, from his obituary, how he lead such a rich life as a teacher, coach mentor, family man, friend of animals and active church member.
I look foreward to seeing you again, Ross, at the great Whitman reunion in the Sky.
Dean L Osgood
I'm sorry to hear about his death. He seemed to have lived his life well and served the community. We are getting older but I had hoped that as a group we would be living longer.
Lynnie (William L. ) Cook
Ross was a memorable part of my childhool. He introduced me to the Houston Oilers football team in 1960 (their first year in the Americal Football Conference) and we enjoyed watching Wilt Chamberlin play for the Philadelphia 76ers. Although our sports together was limited to kickball and playing "Horse" at the "low" basket located on the upper blacktop at Bradley Elementary. (We were too small to use the regulation hoops.) Like the rest of us, it really hurts... and seems surreal... when we loose someone who was part of our childhood. It just doesn't seem possible but, it also gives us a chance to relive important memories. I'm going to miss knowing that you're gone my friend. Thank you for the happy times we had together. Wherever you end up, I hope they play kickball.
Julia M. Gram
Robert Ham
I was very sorry to learn of the passing of Ross. We lived on the same block and attended school together from fifth grade at Bradley, then North Bethesda Junior High, and then Whitman. Although we were in the same grade I don’t recall that we were ever in the same classes. However, after school for years we would ofgen play various games or sports in the neighborhood.
After college we shared apartments for a couple of years. At first we were in Maryland with a third roommate, and when he moved away Ross and I got an apartment at the Hamlets in Alexandria which in those days was popular with singles in their twenties. In time our work schedules and interests diverged. After I got married and moved out Ross relocated back to Maryland. We caught up a couple of times after that, but unfortunately the times were too infrequent. Ross was always a good and entertaining friend and I regret not looking him up on those occasions that I would think about doing so. As Martin said in in an earlier post, “reach out to your friends while you still can".