William Ogden Ross

NEWPORT, RI, January 19, 2003 -- W. Ogden Ross, a World War II Naval veteran and a civic and community leader for many years in New Haven, Connecticut and Newport, Rhode Island, died yesterday in Newport following a long illness. He was 81.Born in 1921 in New York City, Mr. Ross was the son of Dr. William Neely Ross, a Dutch Reform minister, and Catherine Terry Ross, a sculptor, of Nyack, NY and Old Lyme, CT. A graduate of the class of 1943 of Yale University, Mr. Ross served in World War II in the U.S. Navy with the Motor Torpedo Boats in the Pacific Theater. At the age of 23, he rose to the rank of Lieutenant Senior Grade as the commander of a PT Boat in the Philippines. After a long tour of duty, he returned to the U.S. Navy base at Melville, RI where he taught Seamanship and Navigation.After the war, Mr. Ross worked for the public relations firm of Edward L. Bernays in New York City, and then moved to New Haven, CT in 1946. He was director of public relations for the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce, executive vice president of the New Haven County Manufacturers Association, followed by a long career with the Union Trust Company beginning in 1954, where he ultimately rose to the position of senior vice president. He later worked for the Connecticut Bank and Trust Company and as a stockbroker with Merrill Lynch.In 1967 he received a masters degree from the Stonier School of Business at Rutgers University, and the following year authored Marketing in Commercial Banks: How to Proceed, published by Masterco Press of Ann Arbor, Michigan.While he lived in New Haven, Mr. Ross was active in many community and civic organizations, including five years as Chairman of the Hamden CT Industrial Development Commission. He also served as president of the New Haven Colony Historical Society, the New Haven Preservation Trust, and, as Chairman of the Greater New Haven Bicentennial Commission, in 1976 he welcomed Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip to New Haven during their tour of the former colonies. He was also president of the International Student Center at Yale University, as well as president of the New Haven Lawn Club.An avid yachtsman and fisherman, Mr. Ross retired to Newport in 1987, where he continued his tradition of community involvement. He was a board member and first vice president of the Newport Historical Society, and president of the Newport Chapter of the English Speaking Union. He was also president of the Clambake Club of Newport for four years, leading the Clubs centennial celebrations in 1998. He was also a member of The Newport Reading Room and the Spouting Rock Beach Association.Mr. Ross was also active in many genealogical and historical organizations. He was a member of The Society of Colonial Wars and The Founders of Hartford CT, and treasurer of the Clan Ross in the United States. He is a direct descendant of several Mayflower passengers, including Governor William Bradford.He leaves his wife, the former Anne Wotherspoon, three children -- Donald O. Ross of Newport, Philip L. Ross of North Haven, CT, and Stuart C. Ross of Katonah, NY, and eight grandchildren. His first marriage to Diana Lanier Smith of Jamestown, RI, ended in divorce.Funeral services will be held at Trinity Church in Newport on Thursday, January 23 at 2:00 pm. Funeral arrangements are being conducted by Hambly Funeral Home of Newport. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be directed to the Yale Class of 1943 60th Reunion Fund or the English Speaking Union, Newport Chapter.