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Ross was the president of CAPLAW, Inc. as well as a member of the board of directors and former executive director of Westchester Community Opportunity Program (WestCOP).
He received several honors during his lifetime, including the New York State and National Social Worker of the Year award as well as the Black History Month & Trailblazers Award by Westchester County in 2012.
Ross' tenure with WestCOP began in 1984 and continued until his retirement in August 2013. He was the past president of the Yonkers branch of the NAACP (1971-1978); the past first vice president of the National Association of Community Action Agencies; the former chairperson of the New York State Social Work Board; and past first vice president of the National Association of Social Workers.
As president of the Yonkers NAACP, Ross did the research and initiated action leading to a federal desegregation case against the City of Yonkers.
Ross was born in St. Kitts, British West Indies, on Dec. 2, 1941, to Reginald and Ruby (Swanston) Ross and grew up in Yonkers.
He received his bachelor's degree from New York University and entered the U.S. Army. After he was honorably discharged from the military, he began his social work career with the New York City Department of Social Services and earned his master's degree in Social Work from Columbia University.
Ross is survived by his wife of 46 years Rosalind (Lynn); brothers William Ross (Myrna) and Frank Ross (Cecelia); and sister Agnes Jeffery.
He was predeceased by his brother and sister-in-law Clarence and Sandra Ross.
A wake will be held Friday, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Metropolitan AME Zion Church, 76 Belknap Ave. in Yonkers.
On Saturday, there will be final viewing from 10 to 11 a.m., immediately followed by funeral service at 11 a.m. all at Mount Hope AME Zion Church in White Plains.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Ross' name to Westchester ACTSO (checks payable to West. Reg. ACTSO Coalition), P.O. BOX 57, Elmsford, NY 10523.
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