Steven T. Ross *63

Steven Ross, a respected military historian who held the William V. Pratt Chair at the United States Naval War College in Newport, R.I., died Aug. 12, 2018, after a brief illness. He was 81.

After graduating from Williams College in 1959, Ross earned a Ph.D. in history from Princeton in 1963. He taught for several years at the University of Nebraska and the University of Texas, and then joined the faculty of the Naval War College. For 30 years, he taught in the Strategy and Policy Department, where he held the Pratt Chair in Military History. He was awarded the United States Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award.

Ross was a gifted teacher and wrote many articles and reviews on military and diplomatic history, as well as eight books. An expert on Napoleonic military tactics, he also wrote on United States war plans and edited a multi-volume collection in this field and a three-volume series analyzing the plans from 1890 to 1950.

He was a member of the historic Touro Synagogue Board of Officers and for many years was the chair of the advisory board of the Salvation Army of Newport.

Ross is survived by his wife, Bea; a son; and a granddaughter.

Graduate memorials are prepared by the APGA.