Stuart Philip Ross

ROSS

STUART PHILIP ROSS July 3, 1940 – January 2, 2023

A devoted father and grandfather, law partner, and community leader, Stuart Philip Ross passed away peacefully in his Washington, DC home on January 2, 2023, surrounded by family and friends.



The second of three sons to Richard Carl Ross and Myrtle Virginia Reilly, "Stu" was born and raised in Newark, NJ, graduating from Irvington High School. He received his undergraduate degree from The George Washington University (where he played for the Colonials basketball program). Upon graduating from The George Washington University School of Law in 1966, Stu served as a law clerk for Associate Justice Tom C. Clark on the Supreme Court of the United States. The following year, he joined the law firm of Hogan & Hartson (now Hogan Lovells), becoming a partner in 1973. In 1983, he left to form his own firm, Ross, Dixon & Masback (later, Ross, Dixon & Bell, which merged with what is now Troutman Pepper in 2009).



Among his high-profile cases, Stu successfully represented the Passamaquoddy Nation in a landmark 1975 decision, arguing that the United States had a fiduciary relationship with the Passamaquoddy and Penobscot, even though they were not federally recognized tribes. The Department of Justice described the suit as "potentially the most complex litigation ever brought in the federal courts with social and economic impacts without precedent."



The National Law Journal selected Stu as one of America's top 10 insurance lawyers owing to his work with Lloyds of London, the Motorcycle Industry Council, the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino, and many other major American and foreign corporations. He also served as general counsel for the National Endowment for Democracy.



Stu was actively involved in the community, serving as president of both the District of Columbia United Way and the Palisades Citizens Association. He was also elected commissioner of the District 3 Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) multiple times, serving the neighborhoods of Berkley, Foxhall, Kent, Spring Valley, Wesley Heights, and the Palisades.



Stu was an avid runner, completing both Boston and Marine Corps Marathons and enjoying regular jogs on his favorite route along the C&O Canal. He was an enthusiastic reader and collector of classic cars, and also was a part-owner of Rusty's Island Chips, a potato chip company based in Huntington Beach, CA.



More than anything, Stu loved to spend time with his children — Allison Ross Hanna (married to Matthew Hanna), Dalton Ross (married to Christina Kelly), and Christy Ross (engaged to Kamran Daravi) — and five grandchildren: Dale, Violet, Lucy, Dalton, and Minerva. He is also survived by his longtime companion Frances Norris, his brother Jeffrey Ross, and predeceased by his brother Richard Ross (2006). He was previously married to Marta Miller Dunetz and Elizabeth Ross.



A memorial service will be held at the Little Sanctuary at St. Albans School on January 21 at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Stu's name to the Wildlife Conservation Society (wcs.org).