Roderic Henry Ross died on January 20, 2022 at the age of 91. He is survived by his devoted wife of sixty-seven years, Patricia Johnson Ross; children, Timothy (Pam), their children, Heidi (Sullivan) and Billy; Tim and Ben; Amy, Jane (Jennings), and Bill, their child Katelyn; Chris (Veronica); great-grandchildren Quinn and Annie Sullivan, and cherished extended family. He was predeceased by sister Bev Drake, brother Keith, and parents Mary and Edwin A. Ross.

Born in Jamestown, New York on July 14, 1930, Rod was raised in the village of Mayville, in the heart of Chautauqua County. It was here he learned the importance of devoting oneself to upholding the well-being of one's community. Rod was a 1948 graduate of Mayville Central School. A natural athlete, he excelled on the Mayville High School football, basketball, and baseball teams. Indeed, in driveway pickup games of "Horse", he sunk left-handed set shots with startling accuracy into his seventies. His ping pong serves were virtually unreturnable.

Rod entered Hobart College, in Geneva, New York, on an academic scholarship. He served as President of the Sigma Chi house and was elected a member of The Druid Society; and it was here on the banks of Seneca Lake where he met William Smith co-ed, and the love of his life, Patricia Johnson; another Chautauqua County native, who shared his lifelong devotion to the Colleges.

Rod served in Seoul during the Korean war. When he returned, he married Pat, became an agent for Philadelphia Life Insurance Company, and moved his growing family to the western suburbs. He was a Life Member of the Million Dollar Round Table, a C.L.U. and ChFC, and rounded out his career at Philadelphia Life as President, Vice Chairman, and Director. After his forty-four-year tenure at the company ended, Rod founded Keystone State Life Insurance Company, where he served as Chief Executive Officer until his retirement in 2000.

Rod served as Rector's Warden and member of the Vestry at St. David's Episcopal Church where he contributed to the efforts for the church's expansion. His fund-raising talents also helped jump start improvements to the Tredyffrin Public Library in Strafford. He was a former Director at The Union League in Philadelphia, The Widow's Corporation of the Episcopal Church, (founded in 1769), and served on the Board of PNC Financial Services Group, Hunt Manufacturing, and PMA Capital Group for many years.

In 1972, Rod started serving on the Board at Hobart and William Smith. In 1979, HWS bestowed upon him an Honorary L. L. D. (Doctorate of Laws). From 1983 to 1988, he served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees.  There was nothing he enjoyed more, (except Hobart's record-setting string of lacrosse championships), than helping usher a prospective youth into the halls of his beloved alma mater.

An avid golfer into his eighties, Rod was a member of Pine Valley Golf Club from 1975 to 2015, Chautauqua Golf Club, and held a lifetime membership at St. David's Golf Club in Wayne. Rod's innate curiosity often led he and Pat, friends and family, on thought provoking outings to Oscar-worthy films. Blessed with a great smile, he humbly embodied the discipline, optimism, and enthusiasm of a great salesman.

The family would like to express a sincere debt of gratitude to the Beaumont at Bryn Mawr and Holisticare Hospice medical professionals who provided exemplary care as Rod endured Alzheimer's Disease.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to:

• The Edwin A. & Mary Ross Memorial Scholarship Fund at Hobart and William Smith Colleges via https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/26221/donations/new or mail to HWS, 20 Seneca St., Geneva, NY 14456 Attn: Ross Fund.
• St. David's Episcopal Church, 763 S. Valley Forge Rd, Wayne, PA 19087

• Alzheimer's Foundation, https://www.alzfdn.org

• Holisticare Hospice, https://www.holisticarehospice.org

Please join us on Saturday, February 5, at 11 a.m. at St. David's Episcopal Church, 763 S. Valley Forge Rd, Wayne, PA to celebrate a life a well-lived.

To leave a remembrance or to post condolences to the family, please visit freayfuneralhome.com