Richard Ross, SBYC Member - Sailing Vessel "Traveler
II"
September 11, 2001
RICHARD B. ROSS, 58, CEO OF BOSTON CONSULTING FIRM
Richard B. Ross, a Boston business consultant who on a whim would sing a
Frank Sinatra tune as an excuse to dance with one of his daughters, died aboard American Airlines Flight 11 in New York City,
when it crashed into the World Trade Center on Tuesday, September 11, 2001. He was
58.
Mr. Ross, of Newton, was a Dorchester native who went straight from high
school to his first job - selling baby furniture door-to-door. He was president
and chief executive officer of The Ross Group, a consulting firm specializing
in the employee relationships of clients ranging from small family businesses
to Fortune 500 companies.
By some accounts a hopeless romantic, Mr. Ross was also frequently
described as the epitome of a nattily dressed mensch, the Yiddish word for a
down-to-earth, good soul. Disqualified from serving in Vietnam because of a back injury, Mr. Ross
was leader of his platoon in the Army Reserves. Most recently he was education chairman of the New England Young President's Organization
49ers.
He co-founded the Brain Tumor Society and was a member of the Chief
Executives Organization, the Leadership Council at the Kennedy School's Center of Business and Government at Harvard University, and the board of
trustees of Shakespeare & Company.
For 15 years he coached three sports in Newton as his children went through
the baseball, basketball, and soccer programs. No one recalls him ever missing a weekend commitment.
He and his wife also co-managed one of the Rosses' most hallowed institutions, the Friday night family dinner. First they would say the Sabbath
blessing and then individually find something for which to give thanks.
For Mr. Ross, this invariably included acknowledgment of a recent blessing
from his wife or a family member or a friend - or frequently all three. He leaves his wife, Judi (Rotenberg); two daughters, Abigail of Boston and
Alison of New York City; a son, Franklin, of Newton; and two sisters, Rochelle Gordon of Canton and Irene of Jamaica Plain.
A funeral is scheduled for noon tomorrow in Temple Israel in Boston.
