Obituary: Stephen Ross

I am very sad to announce the passing of Stephen Ross on February 10, 2014, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Steph was a founding member of the Magnolia Chorale in 1989 and its principal bass soloist through December 1992. He might best be remembered for his wonderful performance during the 1992 holiday concert in the Vaughn Williams Fantasia on Christmas Carols. Thankfully, Steph and his wife, Paula, were in the audience during the 2013 winter concert, and he was among those recognized as a founding member of the Magnolia Chorale. It meant a great deal to him to be remembered in this way. The service is tentatively scheduled for 4:00 p.m., Saturday, February 22, at St Dunstan’s Episcopal Church, 722 N 145th St, in Shoreline. Before moving to Seattle, Steph had sung with the Chicago Symphony Chorale and the San Diego Opera Company. In addition to the Fantasia on Christmas Carols, he was also a featured soloist in Vaughn Williams’ Serenade to Music, Handel’s Messiah, and the Fauré Requiem.

I am adding a tribute we received by email today from the rector of St Dunstan's, the Rev. David Marshall.  I think it speaks volumes of the way Steph was thought of by those who knew him.

"When someone we love as much as we love Steph dies, we are filled with grief, and even shock. I want to share with you that at his death there was a sense of peace and even a beautiful holiness. Steph was someone who shared the light of Christ with all of us in many ways: Through his generous and loving heart, through his wonderful singing, and through his abundant friendship. That quality of character and graceful generosity that we all experienced in our relationships with Steph was present even in his death. Steph is still with us, living more fully in that life and love that flows from God. I offer this prayer from the Prayers for a Vigil in our prayer book:

Almighty God, our Father in heaven, before whom live all 
who die in the Lord: Receive our brother Steph into the courts of 
your heavenly dwelling place. Let his heart and soul now ring 
out in joy to you, O Lord, the living God, and the God of 
those who live. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen."

NB: If a verbal announcement is made, reminder that Stephen is pronounced Steffen, not Steven.

Pat Gaffney