Joseph A. Ross, 87, passed away July 25, 2014, surrounded by his loving family.
A lifelong resident of Haverhill, Joseph was born July 22, 1927, the son of Daniel and Lucia Rose (Pricola) Ross. He attended Haverhill public schools and graduated from Haverhill Trade School in 1945, where he later taught and served on the school’s Advisory Board. He served in the United States Army from 1945 to 1947 and, upon being honorably discharged, Joseph attended a university extension program in 1947. Joseph was world-renown electrical expert whose work spanned more than 50 years. He started his career in 1948 as an electrician for the IBEW and later served as Chief Electrical Inspector for the City of Haverhill as well as an electrical examiner for the State of Massachusetts. He also served as an electrical field service specialist for the National Fire Protection Association, an organization with which he was actively involved for many years. He started Ross Seminars in 1980, offering the most comprehensive updates to National Electrical Codes. His seminars are approved by Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont and Rhode Island. They are attended by electricians in order to keep their licenses in good standing. His son, Tom, now operates the seminars as Tombarello-Ross Seminars. In 1981, Joseph was chief editor of the National Electrical Code Handbook. He was the Eastern area electrical codes and standards expert for the National Electrical Manufacturers Association before retiring in 1998. In addition to his vast work in the electrical industry, Joseph served as a Haverhill Police reserve officer in 1953. On May 1, 1970, Joseph married the love of his life, Winn (Dalton) Ross. They built a home in Haverhill and raised four children together. Joseph loved reading, sports, fine dining and good wine. He enjoyed crossword puzzles, was an expert at Sudoku, and was known in the family as his wife’s personal sous chef.
In addition to his beloved wife Winn, Joseph is survived by his four children, Scott and his wife Julie Tombarello of Windham, N.H.; James and his wife Susan Tombarello of Jacksonville, Fla.; Thomas and his wife Marykate Tombarello of Sandown, N.H.; and Mary Ross of Bradford, Mass. He is survived by his grandchildren Eric, Amber, Thomas Jr., Chad, Ross, Juliana, Molly, Jake, Kristina and Mark. He leaves six great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Joseph’s family wishes to give special thanks to the Massachusetts General Hospital staff, Holy Family Hospital Oncology Department, and Holy Family oncologist Dr. Han Lin, who became a personal friend to Joseph and Winn through the years. The family would also like to thank Merrimack Valley Hospice for their support. Memorial contributions may be made to Home Health Foundation, 360 Merrimack St., Bldg. 9, Lawrence, MA 01843.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend his calling hours on Tuesday, July 29, from 4 to 8 p.m. at H.L. Farmer & Sons Funeral, 106 Summer St., Haverhill. Funeral services will be Wednesday at 9 a.m. at the funeral home followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at Sacred Hearts Church, 165 So. Main St., Bradford. Burial with Military Honor’s will follow in Linwood Cemetery, Haverhill.