John Ross

submitted by Helen Hanna

John Ross was born in Stayner in 1919 and died of a heart attack in 2003 in Chilliwack, B.C. John started to Byng School in 1925 and graduated from Grade 13. John had a brilliant mind attending University of Toronto on a full scholarship. He became a Presbyterian minister. In 1943 he married Kathleen Cosens and took up a 4-point charge in Creemore, Ont., completing his final year at Knox College extramurally. He was ordained to the ministry of the Presbyterian Church in 1944 and went on to earn his PHD in Philosophy. John’s desire to be involved in academic life was fulfilled in 1957 when he became Dean of St. Andrew’s Hall ; the first Chaplain of U.B.C.; and the founding minister of the University Hill congregation. He was an outstanding public speaker, preacher and author of three books - This We Believe, This Backlit Universe, and yet unpublished The Time Syndome. In addition to all that he was also a poet, artist, photographer, inventor, and carpenter.

Sunday afternoon and evenings were special times for his children, Robin, Dawn, Martin, and Karen. He was faithfully devoted to Kay his wife of almost 60 years (the last 12 spent in a wheelchair) fully honouring his wedding promise “in sickness and in health”.

(This story first appeared in the Fall 2003 issue of our newsletter.)

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