Alan Malcolm Ross

The families of Alan Ross are sharing that Alan passed away peacefully on December 18th 2024 at the age of 94 in Deep River Hospital.

Alan was born in London, England on the 21st July 1930. He was the younger brother to his three sisters. He was sent away to school in the countryside during the blitz.  There he learnt to play and love cricket, and later became a scholar in science.

This led him to Deep River in 1957 to work at AECL in nuclear fuel research for nearly 25 years.  He brought with him his wife Valerie (now deceased) and daughter Jeannette, they subsequently had a son, Douglas, both now living in the UK.

Alan later married Betty and lived on Highland Crescent for many years with Betty's young sons John and Scott; he loved the visits from John and Scott and their children as they grew up and moved away.  He enjoyed playing golf during his retirement and drove down to Florida with Betty to avoid the winters in Deep River. Later, Alan became Betty's carer for a long period during her struggle with illness until she passed away, and was known to many neighbours, friends, other carers and nurses at the Four Seasons Lodge.  He is remembered by them as a loving, kind, caring person, who always put Betty first.

After becoming friends with Dorothy, a fellow carer he met at Four Seasons Lodge, they kept in touch when she moved away to Medicine Hat. Later, when she needed to go to Ottawa, Alan helped by driving across Canada to Medicine Hat to collect her.  This long-distance friendship led to them to falling head over heels in love and marrying in Medicine Hat. Dorothy returned to Deep River with Alan, who became a loved member of his new extended family.  He later cared for Dorothy when she became ill until her passing. Alan, and his nurturing nature, extended his loving support to his step-daughter Diane during her illness until her passing, and was much loved and supported by his step-granddaughters Paige, Brandy and Shannon.

He will be remembered fondly by his children Jeannette and Douglas, his wife Jo, grandson Nick and his wife Vicky, by his local family Paige, her husband Mitchell, sons Ben and Nick, and by Betty's sons, John and Scott and their families, also Alan's nephews Chris, Stephen and Richard in Australia and in England, and extended families. 

Alan particularly valued his times spent with family and the special friends that he made in Deep River, which include Nancy and Mary-Pat.  He enjoyed a good social life.  Alan will be remembered by many for his caring nature, never forgetting to send birthday cards, and his great sense of humour.

The family would like to thank everyone at the North Renfrew Long-Term Care Centre and the Deep River and District Hospital, including two volunteer nurses, for their friendship, support and care of Alan.

A Celebration of Life will take place on Saturday, June 7 from 1 pm until 3:30 pm at the Hexagon Waterfront Patio and Restaurant, 34 Pier Road, Deep River, Ontario, K0J 1P0 ( Deep River Shoreline Sports Club, formally the Deep River Yacht and Tennis Club). Family and friends are invited to join together to celebrate his long life in Deep River, a place and the people he loved and cared about.

In memory of Alan, donations to the Deep River and District Hospital would be gratefully appreciated.