Neil Williams Ross

Neil Williams Ross, Educator, Peace Corps Volunteer, International Scouter, Marina Industry Pioneer, Local Historian, and proud 12th generation Rhode Islander as a direct descendent of Roger Williams, died peacefully at home in Kingston, Rhode Island, on October 23, 2024.

Born to Marguerite Williams and Neil Frederick Ross, and raised in Eden Park, Neil attended the Cranston schools and the University of Rhode Island for his bachelor's in agriculture, and later his master's in adult education, working summers at Camp Yawgoog. On graduation, Neil responded to President Kennedy's call for Americans to 'ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country,' and volunteered in the first wave of Peace Corps Volunteers, serving two years in Jarabacoa, the Dominican Republic, where he immeasurably impacted lives to this day. During Peace Corps training, Neil fell in love with fellow Peace Corps Volunteer also from Cranston, Nancy Ellen Olsen who served in Thailand. After two years apart during their Peace Corps service, they married at Phillips Memorial Baptist Church in Cranston and raised their family in Kingston.

Neil considered himself an Educator for his career, first as a Job Corps director in Kentucky, then as New England's first extension agent in the new U.S. Sea Grant program at the University of Rhode Island, and later as co-founder of the International Marina Institute (IMI). He is described as a visionary pioneer in the marina industry, known as the grandfather of marina training and certification. Neil helped spark the clean marina movement, bridged industry and government, wrote the original language for the U.S. Clean Vessel Act, and fostered profound lasting impact on the international marina industry and clean water.

Outside of his career, Neil was a passionate storyteller and local historian, writing scores of articles and telling hundreds of stories on Rhode Island history and of his beloved Chepiwanoxet island in Narragansett Bay where he spent summers and quahogged since childhood. He was a leader in the Roger Williams Family Association and active in dozens of historical and civic organizations. Neil was a Scout leader for fifty years, leading troops internationally and in Rhode Island, mentored 112 Eagle scouts including his two sons, coordinated 100 international camp staff at U.S. scout camps from the Dominican Republic and Indonesia, and received the National BSA Silver Beaver Award. Neil had the gift of the gab, and skillfully employed endearing humor, wit, charm and his warm emotion as an Educator in all aspects of his life.

Neil is survived by his sons Lincoln and Brook, daughter Heather, daughter-in-law Christina, his four grandchildren Sahara, Kingston, Kahilu and Caelyn, and his sister Dianne Ross Gunther. He leaves behind innumerable beloved family and friends the world over, many of whom call him "Papa Neil".

A memorial service and reception celebrating the life of Neil Williams Ross will be held at the Kingston Congregational Church, 2610 Kingstown Rd, Kingston, RI 02881, at 1pm on Saturday, November 30th.



For guestbook and condolences, visit averystortifuneralhome.com