Dr. Neil Ross

Dr. Neil Donald Ross

Dr. Neil Donald Ross passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of Saturday, November 26. He was born in San Francisco on October 27, 1943 to parents Murray and Edith Ross. He leaves his beloved wife Marilyn, loving children, Jennifer, Aaron, and Connor, his devoted and supportive sister, Barbara Regello, and his grandchildren, Savannah Ross, Isaiah Berriam and a large circle of extended family and friends. Neil was preceded in death by his parents, Murray and Edith and brother Hillard Ross.

Dr. Ross graduated from USC where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. After graduating from Washington University School of Dentistry in 1970 he served one year of dental internship at Queen's Medical Center in Hawaii. Returning to California from Hawaii, he practiced dentistry prior to studying at the University of the Pacific in San Francisco for two years specializing in Orthodontics. Dr. Ross was an adjunct faculty member at UOP in San Francisco from September 2003 to November 2010 and as a typodont (volunteer faculty member) working with orthodontic students at Pacific Medical center. He resided in Los Altos practicing dentistry and Orthodontics for 38 years.

Neil was a passionate supporter of the Stanford Medical Youth Science Program, for which he served as a Board Member. He helped touch the lives of the 650 alumni of this program who thrive when exposed to the world of medicine and overcome the adversity in their lives. He personally mentored several students who became dentists—one was formerly homeless and is now training to be an orthodontist.

An avid sailor, Neil competed in events on San Francisco Bay as well as the Ocean. Skiing was his choice in the winter months where he joined Palo Alto club members as well as medical friends at numerous mountain areas in the U.S. Golf and cycling were his year round sports completing two death rides in the Sierras and the triple crown in cycling.

Neil was a member of the Olympic Club in San Francisco, Palo Alto Hills Golf and Country Club, The Sunnyvale Cupertino Cycling Club and a former member of the Richmond Yacht Club.

A Celebration of Life will be on Jan. 8 at Palo Alto Hills Country Club 2-4 p.m. The family would like to thank his caregivers, Russell and Melody Patacsil, and their daughter Kayla, for exceptional care and loving support a well as Matt Eisenstein, his stem cell donor.