Richard Ross, 74, of The Villages, Florida, passed away peacefully at his home on May 4, 2026 surrounded by his wife, son, and other family members.

Born in Jamaica, New York, to Shirley and Joseph Ross, Rich grew up in Buffalo, New York and then lived for more than 30 years in Western Massachusetts before retiring to The Villages in 2017.

Rich is survived by his wife Nancy Ross of 48 years, his son Nicolas (Christine) Ross, 3 grandchildren, his sister Judith (Roy) Sandstrom, and niece Joanna Sandstrom.

Rich and Nancy were wed in Buffalo, New York on June 24, 1978. Together they shared a love for the ocean and many unforgettable times.

Rich was an avid billiards player since the age of 7. He won the 1995 and 1996 U.S. Amateur Championship, the first player to capture consecutive titles, and competed in 2 U.S. Opens. He was inducted into the New England Billiards Hall of Fame in 2013 and the Villages Billiards Hall of Fame in 2025. Rich was an active member of the Villages Billiard Club.

In his retirement years, Rich embraced life in The Villages where he formed lasting, strong friendships and found great joy in the community. You could always find Rich playing pool at Hibiscus Rec Center. Above all, he treasured time spent with his grandchildren, especially during their visits to Florida.

Rich will be remembered for his kindness, caring, sense of humor and thoughtful demeanor.

Rich was preceded in death by his mother Shirley Weingarten, father Joseph Ross, and step father Joseph Weingarten.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the National Kidney Foundation.