Obituary of Arthur Ross

Arthur Emanuel Ross was born on September 19, 1936, in No. 53 Village/Union, Berbice, British Guiana, to Albert and Negla (née Semple) Ross. The third of eighteen children, Arthur attended #56 Canadian Mission School, where he was known as a “quiet pupil” who loved cricket. He shared a deep and loving bond with his mother, whom he cherished.

At the age of 15, he sat for the Pupil Teacher’s Appointment. He was one of only twenty students in Berbice County to pass the exam and earned the nicknames “PT” and “Teacher Arthur.” His beloved Aunt Betsy proclaimed, “You are the first star to shine in your home.” He spent several years as a pupil teacher at the #59 Government, Leeds Government, and Fort Ordinance Government Schools.

Arthur’s aspirations exceeded his opportunities at home, so he emigrated to England in 1956 with hopes of pursuing a career in medicine. He was the first in his immediate family to leave the country. Soon after his arrival, he took the London General Certificate of Education (GCE) exam and became a lab technician at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Aylesbury, among other positions. Unknown to him, his son, Brian Awe, was born in 1966.

In 1967, while visiting Guyana, his brother Oliver introduced him to a fellow nursing school batchmate, Cecily Ann Aaron. They eventually emigrated to America and were married in 1968. They ultimately settled in Henrietta, NY, and their union produced three children: Donna, Leslie, and Beverly. Arthur worked in several hospitals in Rochester, including Genesee Hospital, Anthony L. Jordan Health Center, and Rochester General Hospital. Wherever he went, he made friends and was well-loved by his colleagues.

Arthur had many hobbies and was a very handy person. He cultivated a beautiful garden in his backyard, went fishing with friends, enjoyed traveling to visit family, and volunteered alongside his daughters. He and Cecily invested deeply in their extended family, sponsoring many relatives to emigrate to America and ensuring they were supported upon arrival. They intimately understood the challenges of coming to a new country and lovingly cared for their brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces, and family friends. They paid school fees, provided housing, helped find jobs, and co-signed car loans, among many other acts of generosity. Together, they strived to provide their loved ones with the opportunity to thrive in America.

The Lord called Arthur home suddenly on October 23, 2025. He leaves to cherish his memory his wife of 57 years, Cecily Ross; his four children – Brian (Marie) Awe, Donna (Douglas) Fiegel, Leslie Ross, and Beverly (Greg) Denny; ten grandchildren – Richard, Aaron, Olivia, Jonathan, Kyle, Laura, Ryan, Caroline, Christina, and Kyra; thirteen siblings – Frances (Walter) King, Lillian Lord, Oliver Ross, Mary Kendall, William Ross, Clifton (Marlene) Ross, Oscar (Myrna) Ross, Simon (Donna) Ross, Negla (Courtney) Parris, O’Neil (Tina) Ross, Martha Ross, Olga Ross, and Cicily Ross – as well as dozens of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

The visitation for Arthur Ross will be held at Marine Park Funeral Home on Saturday, November 1, 2025 from 2:00 to 7:00 PM