Reuben James Ross Jr. ’40

Rube died March 28, 2005.

He prepared at St. George's School, following his father, Reuben 1913, to Princeton. He majored in geology, graduating with highest honors as a member of Sigma Xi. He was a member of the freshman football squad, varsity 150-pound football team, club hockey team, Princetonian news board, and Student Tutoring Association, and was manager and secretary of Cottage Club.

He entered the Army Air Force in 1941, and was discharged in 1946 as a lieutenant colonel and awarded the Bronze Star. From 1945-48, Rube attended Yale University, where he received a master's and Ph.D. with honors. He began doing research in earth sciences for the U.S. Geological Survey in 1952, culminating in the publication of many papers and the chairmanship of the subcommission on Ordovician Stratigraphy of the International Union of Geological Sciences. Rube had a great zest for life, often saying his profession came close to what some people would call a hobby. He found time, nonetheless, for skiing, sailing, tennis, travel, and shooting over his late wife Jill's championship field trial Irish setters. He also served on Princeton's Schools and Scholarship Committee.

To his survivors, son Reuben III "Jamie" '68; daughters Betsy Wahlberg, Deedee Ross, and Alison Hess; and six grandchildren, his classmates express their deep sympathies.

The Class of 1940