Eric T. Ross, a longtime Denver musician, passed away Feb. 8, 2012, after a lengthy illness. Rabbi Salomon Gruenwald officiated at the private graveside service Feb. 10 at Emanuel Cemetery. Feldman Mortuary made the arrangements.
Mr. Ross was born July 28, 1923, in a village in Bavaria.
He escaped Germany as a teenager with his family and immigrated to South Africa.
During WW II, he served in the South African division of the Royal Air Force.
Mr. Ross then settled in Johannesburg, became an accordion player and met his future wife, Shirley Weiner.
The couple moved to the US, where Mr. Ross held jobs in radio advertising while continuing to pursue his music.
Beginning in the 1960s, Mr. Ross led a trio that regularly played at Denver restaurants, hotels, country clubs and private parties.
He continued playing the accordion well into his 80s and entertained the residents at senior care centers.
A frequent extra on television and movie sets, Mr. Ross can be seen as the accordion player in the Jewish wedding scene of The Duchess and the Dirtwater Fox starring George Segal and Goldie Hawn.
Mr. Ross is survived by his wife Shirley Ross; children Elaine (Bradley) Wolken of Hot Springs, Ark., Deborah (John Leach) Ross of Phoenix, Ariz., Sharon Ross of Fort Collins, Ed Ross of Denver and David Ross of Denver; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Denver Dumb Friends League.
Copyright © 2012 by the Intermountain Jewish News
