Hervey S Ross

Hervey Shaw Ross passed away on January 26, 2018, due to cerebral infarction. He was born in Massachusetts on May 5, 1929, and grew up in Southborough, MA. He was currently living in Atlanta, Georgia. Hervey was a 1946 Worcester (MA) Academy graduate, retired insurance executive, noted philanthropist, patron of the arts, and proponent of public speaking programs. His successful business career was built upon his unique ability to open many Regional accounts with large national corporations.

Following graduation from Worcester Academy, he enrolled in college at Clark University in Worcester. In the summer of 1948, he joined a national traveling magazine subscription service to earn tuition money for Clark. Ross travelled every state and, in 1951 before he could return to college, he was drafted into the US Army and served two years in post-World War II Germany during the Korean War. While stationed in Germany, he started a military newspaper and organized team sports between U.S. Army soldiers and German civilians. After his U.S. Army service, he chose Florida for his civilian life and built a thriving career in the life insurance business.

He was a trustee of Worcester Academy for 38 years and he financially sponsored and revived the Dexter Prize speaking contests. Hervey also formed a Toastmasters club at Worcester Academy and established a contest at a Worcester Public School to nurture public speaking and oratory. He was the founder of Hervey S. Ross Academians and the Academy’s 1834 Society, which recognizes those who include Worcester Academy in their wills. He had a key role in the restoration of WA’s magnificent Lewis J. Warner Theater, considered the jewel of the Academy’s historic buildings. The theater’s Hervey S. Ross ’46 Auditorium is named in his honor.

Hervey was the former president of Ft. Lauderdale Symphony Society – where he raised the necessary funds for the First Free Children’s Concert. He was president and Lt. Governor in the Civitan organization and was awarded with the coveted Honor Key for the state of Florida. He was an active person, being a member of Ft. Lauderdale Jaycees where he was presented with a service award. He was also active in Sea Scouts, Boy Scouts, Broward County Cancer Society, Jaycees (where he was “Man of the Year”), Optimist Club, a 32nd Degree Mason with 60 years of continuous service, and was involved in a successful Salk Polio vaccine drive in Ft. Lauderdale.

In 2001, Hervey was awarded with Allstate Financial’s coveted Life Achievement Award at their San Francisco convention, and received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters in 2007 from Clark University. Hervey was a patron of seven theatres in Atlanta, including Stage Door Players of Dunwoody, GA, Georgia Ensemble Theater, Roswell, GA, Alliance Theater, Atlanta, Atlanta Lyric Theater, Marietta, GA, Horizon Theater, Atlanta, Art Station, Stone Mountain, GA, Theatrical Outfit in Atlanta, a patron of two theaters in Ft. Lauderdale, and two in Canada: Stratford-on Avon and Niagara-on-the-Lake. He was an active Toastmaster in two clubs in Atlanta and two in Ft. Lauderdale and earned the designation as “Able Toastmaster (ATM)”.

Hervey had a tremendous love for dogs and was responsible for raising champions. His dogs have appeared at the annual Westminster Dog Show in New York. He also was a member of North Cobb American Legion Post 304, having donated the property and building on South Main Street in Acworth, GA for the Post to have a permanent home.

Hervey is survived by his son, Shawn Davis, wife Megan, and two grandchildren, Madeline and Abigail Grace of Kennesaw, GA.

Final arrangements are being handled by Neptune Society and a Celebration of Life Service will be held for family and friends on March 17, 2018, at the Sandy Springs United Methodist Church, 86 Mt. Vernon Hwy, Atlanta 30328 at 11:00 am. Please refer to the Neptune Society’s website, www.NeptuneSociety.com for further details and guestbook. In lieu of flowers you may consider a donation to Sandy Springs United Methodist Church in his honor.