Robert Allen Ross

Rusty Ross passed away after a brief, but vigorous fight at Ascension Seton Hospital in Austin on May 18, 2020, following complications from a prolonged spinal surgery recovery. Although his injuries shortened his life a bit he always said: “I’d do it all over again… for the game.”

He is survived by his wife Mary (who he met and married in Santa Fe, NM on their land on the Fourth of July, 1996); his daughter Amy of Denver (Mark); son Michael of Austin (Lisa); step-daughter, Laura Schenck; sister Kathy of Dallas; brother Steve of Austin; grandchildren Henry, Harry, Zoe and Finn; nephews Blake and Hunter. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert Francis Ross and Noreen Mary Ross as well as his sister, Jane Ellen Ross.

Rusty was born on March 26, 1942, in Ann Arbor, Michigan and moved with his family to Austin in 1952 where his father, Bob, had been recruited by the University of Texas. The rest is history.

He was a true Texan, but when pushed- loved to tell the story that before returning to Texas his Mom took a bag of Texas dirt to Michigan when she was to give birth to him… so she could say he was “born on Texas soil”!

Rusty was born to enjoy his life to the fullest which included: making and always keeping up with many friends; wrangling horses at Ft. Clark for 7 summers and doing rodeo while trying to keep it from his Mom; earning his Finance degree at UT Austin; living and working in New Jersey, California, Texas, Tennessee and New Mexico. For five years Rusty loved having an office in London, traveling for business to Scotland and fly-fishing in Alaska, being a stockbroker, a custom boat builder, a mortgage broker, financial arm in golf course developments and an Austin realtor.

And, let’s not forget a few of his favorite things: Football, primarily Texas Longhorns football (Rusty’s blood ran orange- HOOK ‘EM!), telling great stories, tasty food, good drinks (especially a good Malbec or Pinot Grigio), good conversation, his set of Lucchese cowboy boots, dancing, the Eagles (especially “Get Over It”), chicory coffee, Jimmy Buffet singing anything, being with Mary and Sweet Berner Molly especially at Happy Hour on their back porch of their new home in Georgetown.

Rusty Ross pretty much enjoyed being on earth in general. He lived life to the fullest.

His loyal friends and loving family miss him now and will miss him forever but know a spirit as generous and joyful as Rusty’s will be with us all forever.