Sam Ross, a real estate developer who had a longtime commitment to Baycrest, died Feb. 22 at age 84.
A former member of Baycrest’s board of directors, Ross served as chair of the building committee for the Terraces of Baycrest and the Joseph E. and Minnie Wagman Centre.
After receiving Baycrest men’s service group Man of the Year Award in 1976, Ross assumed key executive volunteer positions, including chairman and vice-president of the board.
In 2003 he was appointed an honorary director of Baycrest, and in 2005, a leadership gift from Ross and his wife, Ida, enabled Baycrest to establish the Sam and Ida Ross Memory Clinic as part of its focus on brain health.
An avid long distance runner, he always participated in Baycrest’s Fun Run fundraiser.
Mark Gryfe, president of Baycrest Foundation, said that Baycrest was Ross’ “number 1 organization. When he took on the project of building the Terraces, he lived it. He went into the place and supervised the construction site. He took his professional experience and brought it to Baycrest. It is his lasting legacy.”
Donald Rafelman, who served as vice-chair of the Terraces advisory committee, said that Ross “couldn’t have put more effort into the project if it had been his own private venture. His extreme dedication and unrelenting commitment were evident right from the start.”
Gryfe said that he has heard from “countless people” who called Ross a quiet gentleman whom people respected. “He was very low key and not into anything for his ego. If all we have to leave behind is our reputation, then Sam’s memory will be a good one.”
In his eulogy, Ross’ son, Jeffery, said that it was a common family joke how quiet his father was. After joining his father at a business meeting, however, “a debate ensued. When [my father raised his hand to speak] the room fell silent, with someone noting that ‘Sam had something to say.’
“What transpired was not so much the fact that Dad could see beyond the immediate issues with a great insight, but moreover, to me, the respect and recognition that was given to Dad by his peers.”
Born in Poland near the Russian border, Ross came to Canada with his family when he was four years old. “As a young man, he worked with his father as a carpenter, and during World War II, he joined the air force and served as a mechanic,” his son said.
At this time, he met his wife, Ida, to whom he was married for 55 years before her death in 2006. “At a speech my father once gave, he said that of all the deals he had ever made, the best deal was marrying Ida.”
Jeffery Ross said that on Yom Kippur of 2008, he heard a rabbi’s sermon, which left a powerful impression. “I will always remember the last two words… ‘Be good.’ Sam Ross was a good man.”
Sam Ross was husband of the late Ida and father of the late Murray. He leaves behind his son Bernie and daughter-in-law Ruth; son Jeffrey and daughter-in-law Diane; and daughter-in-law Rhonda. He also leaves eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
