Bernard Ross

I attended BMC School of Social Work from 1963-65 and earned my MSS. The first book my I read upon arriving was Saul Alinsky's Reveille For Radicals, assigned by Prof. Ross. It was a revelation, and Ricky Ross was a most prescient, encouraging, cheerful, positive and humorous presence during my two years there. He has been a continuing inspiration throughout wonderfully fulfilling 47 year career. Ricky invested his whole heart and being in all of us. I am now 75 and will always remember and...

It has been many years since I received my M.S.S. from Bryn Mawr (1967). Ricky was my first contact with the School, and he always had something warm and welcoming to say. Both my husband and I have very fond memories of him; we had just gotten married when I began graduate work there. I hope Ricky will forgive me for giving up community organization in order to devote myself to art as a landscape photographer. BTW, I had not realized that he was a Pirates fan - since I was a true...

Dear Joanna,
I am so sorry to hear about Ricky. He was one of a kind. You took good care of him for a long time.

Dear JoAnna,
I was so sorry to hear of Ricky's passing. When we moved from the University of Kansas to Portland for family reasons, he provided wise counsel and career assistance in this transition. Finally, Ricky hired me as a faculty member at Portland State, and I served as his Assistant Dean for several years before his retirement. It was a genuine pleasure to work with him. His dry humor was legendary!
With love to your family.

Dear JoAnna,

Please accept our condolences. Ricky lived life with gusto, kindness and great humor. Michael and I remember many Christmas and beach festivities with you and Ricky and cherish each and every one. We will raise our glass tonight in salute to our friend who is now dancing as one of the "Three Amigos."

Michael and Mary Moran

Dear JoAnna, I saw the picture of you and Ricky in the paper today, I was sorry to read that he had died. You both look very happy in the picture. Best wishes, Chuck Johnson, MSW, 1979. One angel at a time.

Ricky Ross was a friend of mine. I have a number of fond memories from the brief time that I knew him. A lifelong Pittsburgh Pirate fan, he once told me the story of when he saw them in the World Series. A fan myself, I blurted "You saw the Pirates in 1971 ?!" To which he replied, "No". Then I said, "You saw them in 1960?!" He smiled warmly and said, "No, I saw them in 1925, when I was 9 years old".
I was impressed. See you on the other side, my friend. Say hi to Joe Tosi.