Ron Ross Obituary

Ronald P. Ross
Dec 30, 1936 - Feb 2, 2022
Ron Ross, the charismatic founder of the San Francisco History Association and champion of all things San Francisco, died peacefully from cancer on February 2, 2022.

In 1968, he journeyed to San Francisco from the Bronx to visit his friend, John Fusco. Ron fell in love with the city, moved here and never looked back.

Ron was fascinated with the history of San Francisco (especially the 1906 earthquake) and soon began amassing ephemera and meeting other people who collected artifacts from San Francisco's past. In 1982, Ron founded the San Francisco History Association (SFHA). He was responsible for introducing thousands of people to the glories of the city's history.

Ron was also a great supporter of the LGBTQ community. Ron held two titles from the San Francisco Imperial Court: Mr. Gay San Francisco 1974 and Imperial Czar of The Golden Gate Empire of San Francisco, given in 1976. Over the years he enjoyed enduring friendships with many in the community and was especially close with The Absolute Empress, the Widow Norton (Jose Sarria).

Under Ron's leadership, the SFHA was a long-time host of ephemera shows and donated 100% of proceeds to San Francisco educators to teach students about the city's history.

For over 40 years, he helped organize the April 18, 1906 earthquake events at Lotta's Fountain and the "Little Giant" fire hydrant at 20th and Church Streets. There he wielded a gold spray-paint can and invited everyone to help paint the hydrant. He never missed an event celebrating the city.

Ron received multiple awards including an honorary San Francisco fire helmet from the Guardians of the City and Fire Chief Joanne Hayes White. He also received a Certificate of Honor from Mayor London Breed for his work to preserve, restore and remember San Francisco's colorful history.

Ron will be remembered for his trademark New York humor, his sometimes blunt delivery, his big heart and his love of San Francisco.

He is survived by two sisters, Rita Policella and Lorraine DeCanditis, and 19 nieces and nephews who adored him, as well as innumerable friends and followers in San Francisco who will miss him every day.

No services are planned. In his honor, join the 1906 earthquake commemoration at 5 a.m. on Mon, April 18 at Lotta's Fountain. Mayor Breed will dedicate this year's event to Ron.

For more about Ron visit: sanfranciscohistory.org/our-founder/

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by San Francisco Chronicle from Feb. 8 to Feb. 13, 2022.

Memories and Condolences
for Ron Ross

4 Entries

Verna Shaheen

February 18, 2022

Ron´s energy and dedication to San Francisco history was remarkable. May his memory be a blessing.

Doug Kopecky, once of San Francisco

February 18, 2022

Was good to know you Ron and yes, Sacramento does "Have Restaurants"... (as you asked of me when I moved here". LOVE MEMORIES- Doug Kopecky, (Castro Station 1975-1981).

Patricia McCaughey

February 14, 2022

Sad to hear of Ron´s Passing. Now he is part of San Francisco´s colorful past. I met Ron through the SFHA which he founded. Literally just yesterday I found two of my membership cards, from2017 and 2019. I always appreciated his interest in the history and subtle guidance after a wise-cracking session. I have been trying to write a historical novel about San Francisco for thirty years. A large subject, and I usually get about a fortune cookie´s worth of information about my particular interest at a time! Many times I would tell Ron what I had been discovering, and lo, in or month or two he would have a comparable topic at a SFHA meeting. Interesting books would mysteriously appear for sale on the Back Book Table. Since the pandemic, I have been minding my own business since I am still basically computer illiterate, which I console myself by thinking my historical flavor will be richer without all these new-fangled gadgets. Uh huh. Thank you Ron, for helping to make my reality real

Jane Cryan

February 13, 2022

This is one obit I hoped I wouldn't see for a long time and at this moment I'm feeling very sad. Ron told me that he was ailing but, honestly and foolishly, I thought and hoped that he just might stick around for his 100th birthday so his legions of friends could give him an epically grand birthday party that would go down in the annals of The City's history . Ron founded SFHA at the same time I created and directed The Society for The Preservation & Appreciation of San Francisco's 1906 Earthquake Refugee Shacks. How we discovered each other I do not recall but once we met I followed Ron around to his history events and he showed up at mine. His passing is a great loss and I send my deepest condolences to his family. In the words of a 1906 survivor, "we must make the best of it and forget the rest of it." Farewell very dear friend.

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