Ross Thomas Potter

I imagine lying on an air mattress in a calm, quiet northern Wisconsin lake. One guy shatters my world in a jet ski, sending me into the water with his wake and assaulting my ear drums with his 2-cycle engine. Another guy slips by, barely making a sound, his wake gently rocking my mattress. I soon forget the first insult, but long remember the nudge from the second. It was Ross in that canoe.

Dear Tom, I am so sorry to learn of your dad's death. He was a lovely man and neighbor and it was always a pleasure to see the two of you together managing your property and helping me with many projects over the years. I have ordered a cluster of Memorial Trees to be planted in honor of him--what a fitting memorial for a man whose sensitivity to our environment and its health and survival for generations to come was so important. I am sorry that I cannot join you for his memorial service....

Ross was an incredibly talented man. I recall numerous times watching he and Tom work on woodworking projects in their basement. I've known this talented family for 50 or more years. Ross was as close to a second father as I could've had as a teen. I had a lot of respect for him, and his vast skills through the years. The world has lost a good man. My prayers go out to Thomas, Alisa and their family for strength in this heart-rending time.

My condolences to the family. When Ross was president of AIA Wisconsin, I served as Vice-president. He was such a kind person and passionate about the profession of architecture. He will be remembered with respect and admiration by our members. We owe him a debt of gratitude for his service.

We met Ross and Fran over fifty years ago at church and remained friends ever since. They were a devoted, talented, humble couple with an outstanding marriage that were meant for each other. Ross and several other church friends met Thursdays for over 30 years for conversation, coffee and fellowship; Ross will be greatly missed!

My cousin Ross was intelligent, generous, well educated, a talented architect and designer, a skilled craftsman and woodworker, an expert jewelry maker and a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He will be dearly missed but his legacy will live on in our cherished memories of wonderful times we spent with him over a lifetime. Keith Clauson