Carol Ross

We are saddened to share the loss of a dear family member and friend, Carol Lynn Ross, who died January 10 after a long illness. She resided in her favorite place in the world, Monterey, and prior to that, lived for 25 years in adjacent Pacific Grove. She was 71. During her life, Carol made many friends with her good humor, colorful stories about her wild ride through the '60s and '70s in the San Francisco Bay Area, and her love of jazz and animals and the beautiful ocean that she adored. Prior to retirement, Carol worked as a computer programmer for the Defense Language Institute in Monterey. It was a career that spanned several decades, beginning at Fort Mason in San Francisco, with stops along the way at Sharpe Army Depot in Tracy, the Oakland Army Base and Coast Guard Island. She was among the first programmers in the new field, and a female helping to close the gender gap in a profession dominated by males. (She was once nearly arrested by military personnel on the base when she refused to wear a dress to work – instead defiantly wearing faded blue bell-bottom jeans.) Prior to her lengthy career with the federal government, Carol owned a bar with first husband, Tito Boas. Known as Tito's, the funky Berkeley establishment featured music from some of the best talent of the '60s, including Sly and the Family Stone and Santana. She also owned a second bar, Roberts, on Fruitvale in Oakland – a smoky, old-school joint that featured a zany cast of characters. Amidst such a wild backdrop, Carol got involved in a number of crazy capers that amused and entertained many friends and acquaintances over the years. (Given this is a solemn, memorial site, we won't go into details, and just leave it at that! ;) With such a wild and crazy life, one would have never known that she studied chemistry and criminal science at the University of California at Berkeley. But then again, going to Cal probably fostered her lifelong passion for peace, social justice and equal rights for all. Away from the work grind, Carol fully immersed herself in her music, and was a frequent attendee at the yearly Monterey Jazz Festival. (Next to God, Miles Davis was probably her next favorite VIP.) She also dearly loved her pets, which she treated like royalty. They were her children, and provided her such comfort and joy. As hobbies, she loved to paint and to cook – she was known for whipping up delectable meals, many prepared on the fly, in the middle of the night. She also loved religion and the paranormal, and was passionate about the formations of the universe and the origins of life, space exploration, and the afterlife (speaking of which...Hi Sis!). She is survived by her dear dog, Louie, and her cuddly cat, Lil' T, both of whom have been lovingly adopted by dear friend Tom; and her beautiful white cockatoo, Sunny, who is being adopted by her brother, Tom. In addition to brother Tom, she is survived by sister-in-law Marla; her nephews, cousins, step mother Lois Ross; and numerous other family members and friends. She is preceded in death by her mom Jackie; stepfather, Bill, father Clancy, and loving pets Jazzy, Mr. T, Gata, and a whole menagerie of other furry friends. Carol did not want to fuss with a service, but we hope you will chime in with your remembrances and thoughts on this site, in honor of this wonderful lady. In her honor, you may also wish to make a donation in her name to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals -- an organization that strikes at the heart of who she was as a warm and kind human being. Here's to you, Sis. We love you. = Brother Tom Service Information