Robert Ross Jr. ’45

Robert Ross Jr. ’45 of Tallahassee, Florida, passed away November 9, 2012, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He was born in Newark, New Jersey, and came to Dartmouth from Orange High. He left Dartmouth for naval aviation (V5) in June 1943 as a commissioned ensign and received his wings in December 1944. He did stateside duty and returned to Dartmouth to graduate spring 1947. Bob then joined the insurance industry and was sent to Florida, where he moved up in responsibility and ownership, putting a couple of agencies together to become president. He married Fleurette Bourque, a girl from Connecticut, in December 1951. Between 1953 and 1974, while living in Ft. Lauderdale, he was elected and served in many civic and insurance organizations including as chairman of Southern Agents Conference, an insurance organization made up of 14 southeastern states. In October 1974, at age 50, he decided on a second career and became director of education and later vice president of the Florida Association of Insurance Agents and moved to Tallahassee. He taught technical insurance subjects and appeared at many conferences. He received a FEMA Outstanding Service Award as a result of his many contributions to education in flood control insurance. It was said that Bob never met a stage he did not like. He touched the lives of thousands of business associates through his educational pursuits. He was predeceased by his wife, Flo, and is survived by children Michele, Patrice, Susan, Robert and Mark; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.