CAPE ELIZABETH – Russel J. Ross, 59, of Cape Elizabeth, formerly of Andover, Mass., died unexpectedly on Nov. 9, 2003. He was born in Houlton, the son of Arnold P. and Ruth V. (Hutchinson) Ross. He grew up on a potato farm in Littleton, where he attended a one-room school. He graduated from Houlton High School in 1961, from the University of Maine in 1969, with a bachelor’s of science in civil engineering, and from Northeastern University in 1975, with a master’s of science in environmental engineering. He was licensed as a Professional Engineer in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. He was a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Boston Society of Civil Engineers, and a Fellow in the American Academy of Environmental Engineering. He worked for Camp Dresser and McKee Inc., an environmental engineering firm in Cambridge, Mass., for 35 years retiring as a vice president in May 2003. He was involved in many water and waste treatment projects throughout New England, notably Boston, Mass., Portland, Concord, N.H., Barrington, R.I., and most recently, the Walnut Hill Water Treatment Plant in Marlborough, Mass. He was a renowned joke teller, especially ones requiring a Down East accent. He reveled in passionate discussions of the state of the economy, politics, religion, philosophy, and the Red Sox vs. the Yankees. He was an avid reader, an enthusiastic movie goer and a terrible speller. Most of all, he loved and lovingly cared for his family, his friends and his home. He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Joan M. (Emery) Ross of Cape Elizabeth; son, Arnold P. Ross II of Lawrence, Mass.; brother, Larry P. Ross of Houlton; sister, Mary and her husband, Cecil Ryder, of Yarmouth; and in-laws, Mary M. Emery and Susan J. Emery of Bangor, Frederick C. Emery Jr. and Carolyn J. Mowers of Cape Elizabeth, James C. Emery of Northampton, Mass., David M. Emery of Freeport; several nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends. There will be no visiting hours. Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Thursday at the Hobbs Funeral Home, 230 Cottage Road, South Portland. Interment will be at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Cape Elizabeth Land Trust, P.O. Box 265 CCB, Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107 or to the charity of your choice.
RUSSEL J. ROSS
