Obituary

Jay Ross (78) of Rochester, NY, passed away unexpectedly after a brief illness. Born and raised in Missoula, MT, Jay left home to attend Whitman College in Walla Walla, WA. There she met Dan Ross and the two were married and started a life of grand adventures. They moved to Chicago where Jay received a BA and MFA from the University of Chicago in ceramics. They briefly lived in Florida but Jay couldn’t stand the climate or the alligators.

Jay and Dan settled in Rochester where she found a new home in the 19th Ward. Even though they were far away from their families, they raised their four children with a close-knit community. Jay worked at The Creator’s Hands and as an artist, making ceramics in her basement studio and jewelry at her dining room table. She later received an associates degree in wetlands conservation and worked for the DEC. Walking swamps and waterfronts in the Finger Lakes was her idea of a dream job. Jay was deeply committed to her community, volunteering over the years at the 19th Ward Community Association, School 16 and the Arnett Public Library. She loved gardening, reading, and spending time in nature. Despite serious health challenges she was an avid traveler, visiting 49 states, over 30 countries, and 6 continents.

As an only child, Jay’s greatest love was her large family. Dan and Jay recently celebrated their 58th anniversary. Her children and their partners, eleven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren loved spending time with her at Sodus Bay, packed into her living room for holidays, and at school concerts or sporting events for which she would always find time.

Jay was beloved by Dan, her family, and her friends. She will be fondly remembered for her unwavering thoughtfulness and warmth, intelligence and curiosity, and persistence and bravery. She had a good life, but always thought of others. In lieu of flowers, her family requests that her memory be honored with acts of kindness or a gift to the Wilderness Society or the Genesee Land Trust.

Jay is survived by her husband Dan Ross; children Michael, Eric (Lisa), Jesse (Erin) and Katheryn (Will); grandchildren Jaynah (Omar), Grayden, Owen, Julia, Marta, Charles, Ellis, Theodore, Samuel, Odell and Dante, great-granchildren Matthew, Matías and Adella; cousin Hazel; siblings-in-law and nieces and nephews; and many friends.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.