Robert Duncan Ross remembers two things from his undergraduate studies at the University of British Columbia - playing rugby and compulsory military drills required of all men his age during the Second World War. He continued schooling at UBC, graduating from law school in 1949. He left Vancouver half-way through articling to road trip with a friend to Florida, where they found a berth on a sailing vessel to adventure around the Caribbean for half a year.
Returning to Vancouver, Mr. Ross entered practice on his own representing many plaintiffs in personal injury suits. He was particularly well-known for representing disabled and spinal cord injury clients, and had significant success with swimming pool diving cases. He would self-fund his cases, bearing the disbursement cost in lost cases.
Robert Ross was an advocate for the disabled throughout his life. He was a strong supporter of the BC Paraplegic Association, the Disabled Sailing Association, and an early backer of the Rick Hansen's Man in Motion World Tour. Ross was not only a strong supporter of the cause but also encouraging of those who were also passionate about helping the disabled. He would take the counselors of the BC Paraplegic Association sailing annually.
Personally, he had a strong bond with his wife Shelia and his children. When his daughter Nancy wanted to learn to ride horses, Ross became an avid horse person and supporter of equestrian projects. In the end, the family started a stable in Southlands, sponsored equestrian shows, bred race horses for Hastings Park, and assisted in the creation of the disable riding association in the neighbourhood.
Robert Duncan Ross, Q.C. passed away in mid-summer 2016, at the age of 90.
For more, read the Nos Disparus for Robert Duncan Ross, Q.C. from The Advocate, 75 (2017)