Edward Cary Ross

Edward Cary Ross passed away peacefully in his sleep on March 19, 2026. He was 56 years old.

Ed was born on May 27, 1969, in Elmhurst, Illinois. He attended Medinah public schools and graduated from Lake Park High School in Roselle, Illinois in 1987. He also spent two years at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.

With the exception, of two years in New York City, Ed lived his entire life in the Chicago area, most recently in Lake Point Tower on Chicago's waterfront, where he overlooked Navy Pier. Ed grew up obsessed with skyscrapers, and he took great joy in the view from his windows overlooking Lake Michigan. His family and friends looked forward to his many photos of Lake Michigan sunrises and sunsets, which he shared weekly.

After an early tenure working with his father in the floral industry, Ed found his calling at United Airlines, where he worked for 32 years as a senior crew scheduler. Ed was highly efficient in his role at United, there was no problem he couldn't solve. Leaders, schedulers and flight attendants counted on Ed's empathetic and strategic leadership. In addition to his love for the job and his coworkers, Ed also loved that he was based in the Sears (Willis) Tower, for many years the tallest building in the world, and a favorite destination for visits when he was a child.

Ed loved books, movies, sports, and travel. He took advantage of his travel privileges at United to fly throughout the country and to numerous foreign countries, including visits to almost every Major League ballpark. He was a lifelong fan of the Chicago Cubs, the Chicago Bears, and the Michigan Wolverines.

Ed had an encyclopedic memory and amazed his family and friends with the obscure details he was able to recall - e.g., which movie was playing on a flight he took when he was 10 years old. He loved learning new things and sharing his knowledge with his many coworkers. He also loved dining out with friends, debating current events, and spending time with his family at their summer cottage in Macatawa, Michigan, where he taught his nieces to fish.

Ed is survived by his brother David, who lives with his wife Samantha and daughters Annalise and Julia in Washington, DC. Ed was preceded in death by his parents, Edward Walthall Ross and Mary VerMeulen Ross.

In addition to his family in Washington, Ed leaves behind an extensive circle of friends, including his many close friends and colleagues at United. He will be deeply missed by all.

Memorial donations may be made to United We Care Employee Relief Fund. The United We Care Employee Relief Fund provides confidential, timely, short-term financial relief for those in the United Family needing assistance, as a result of a crisis.