Bernard Alan Ross
Published June 9, 2013
Bernard Alan Ross, died June 5, 2013. Born February 9, 1922; he is survived by his loving wife Elizabeth Ross; daughter Judith Ross Goodman (Mark); his son Judge John A. Ross (Judy), and dear grandchildren: Lauren, William and Evan Amelia Goodman, and Emily and Joe Ross. Growing up in Clayton, he attended Harris Stowe College and graduated from Western Michigan College of Education in 1944. He was a middleweight college and Golden Gloves boxer. Enlisting in the United States Marine Corps, he trained at the Officers’ School at Quantico, Virginia and served as First Lieutenant in the Fleet Marine Force, Pacific during World War II. Later, he joined the United States Air Force Reserve. Returning from the war through the Panama Canal, he was introduced to Elizabeth Louise Schnitzer by mutual friends in Dallas, Texas. They were married in 1949, the first garden wedding at Le Chateau, and would celebrate 64 years on July 5, 2013. During 50 years as founder and CEO of The Alan Company, a mailing, printing and publishing business, he produced press programs for the St. Louis Football Cardinals and handled fan mail for Dizzy Dean; developed national materials for high school and college debate teams; established the New College Debate Institute in Sarasota, Florida; created the French, Spanish and German versions of Weekly Reader; and worked with longtime corporate customers, including ITT Aetna and Monsanto. Bernard Ross was president of the Eastern Missouri Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation, president of the Mail Advertising Club of St. Louis, and Co-Chair of the Missouri Governor’s Conference on Arthritis. He actively supported political campaigns, including Governor Warren E. Hearnes and County Executive Buzz Westfall. He will be remembered as a gentleman, with wisdom, humor, kindness and modesty. His interests ranged from singing in the choir and owning a body building gym; to flying and breeding his award-winning St. Bernard dog. He loved being with his family, enjoying country air in Catawissa, Missouri with his four horses and the beach in Longboat Key, Florida. Funeral service Tuesday, June 11, 11:00 AM at New Mt. Sinai Cemetery Mausoleum, 8430 Gravois Road. Visitation for Mr. Ross 10:30 AM Tuesday. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a contribution to the St. Louis County Veteran’s Memorial, 1330 S. Big Bend Blvd., St. Louis, MO, 63117, or to the Arthritis Foundation, 9433 Olive Blvd., St. Louis, MO, 63132. Rindskopf-Roth