On June 3, 2023, Arthur David Ross, 74, passed away at his home in Solebury and in the companionship of his loving family.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Nov. 27, 1948, Art grew up on Long Island in the town of Wantagh. He graduated from MacArthur High School in 1966 and went on to attend Hiram Scott College, part of the University of Nebraska. While there during the raucous ’60’s, he traveled extensively to California and was there during the “summer of love.” The following year Art went to the Caribbean Island of Jamaica, thus began his love for the islands.
In 1971 he was married to Carol Levine. As they started out, Art’s business brought them to Nashville, Tenn., where their son Alan was born in 1972. Soon they moved to Chester County, Pennsylvania, where their daughter Jaime was born in 1976. In 1980 the family came to Solebury, in Bucks County. Art spent over two decades working in the garment industry and had a reputation for being a masterful salesman.
Art was a community activist always. He spent a decade of service on the Solebury Township Parks and Recreation Board. His love of the outdoors was a driving factor in building and extending the township’s extensive open space program. Art also worked with the school board to advocate for a pro-student agenda.
Art loved his large family of the Kramers, Rosses, Levines and Haazes and would make every opportunity to spend time with them all. He was called Captain Art by his friends worldwide because of the master’s license he held with the United States Coast Guard and was active as a vessel safety examiner and staff officer for eight years with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary as his sailing life slowed down. Art has a passion for sailing and enjoyed sharing his sailing experiences and knowledge with those he encountered on his journeys. He taught sailing at the New Hope Community School for 10 seasons and on boats in many different waters. For much of the last 20 years, Art spent the colder months in the Grenadine Islands, and especially loved the little island of Bequia.
Art was a passionate fan of the Philadelphia Flyers. He also loved watching his granddaughter play softball, traveling to many of her games, and watching them virtually when he was unable to travel. He loved to travel with his grandson and they shared memorable trips including one to Canada.
Even after being diagnosed with COPD, he was an avid cyclist and rode over 10,000 miles, often accompanied by his children, who also developed a love of cycling and the outdoors. As his illness progressed, he began riding an E-bike, carrying his oxygen supply with him and surpassed 1,000 miles in 2022. He set the example for his children by his resilience and desire to live each day as if it was his last.
Art is survived by his family: his wife Carol, his best friend and love of his life for over 52 years, his son Alan and his fiancé Ashley Hill, his daughter Jaime and his grandchildren Quintin and Sadie Rose.
A memorial service will be held for Art at the Solebury Friends Meeting House, 2680 Sugan Road, New Hope, Pa., on Tuesday, June 20, at noon.
Art’s ashes will be interred at the Solebury Friends Meeting Cemetery.
Memorial donations in Art’s memory may be made to the Bucks County SPCA, 1665 Street Road, New Hope, PA 18938.
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