Rich was born in Fort Worth, Texas to James and Margie Ross. His dad owned a printing business and his mom was a homemaker. He had two older brothers Byron and Steve, and a few years after his birth a final sibling Melinda was added to the family.

The family moved to San Jose, California when Rich was 8 years old. He graduated from Santa Teresa High School in 1977 where he excelled in sports (baseball and football) as well as academics. He went to Cal (UC Berkeley) on a baseball scholarship as a freshman and then finished up his college baseball career at Fresno State. He was drafted by the Dodgers twice. He chose not to sign but instead to play at the Collegiate level. He was a talented water skier, snow skier, tennis player and golfer.

After Rich graduated from Fresno in Construction Management he went to work for a home builder in the San Jose area. He went on to get his contractor's license. He was the General Contractor for a custom home in Blackhawk as well as many home remodels over the next few years. His dad hired him to build a custom home in North Lake Tahoe as well. In 1991 Rich and Steve bought Hillview Convalescent Hospital from their dad and Rich became the back of the house person (computers, software, payroll and compliance) while Steve was the front of the house (staff, families, State Regulators); they both worked on maintenance issues and ran the business together until 2022 when they decided to sell the business.

Shortly after buying the business from their dad, Rich met MaryAnne (through Steve) and got

married in 1994. Rich and MaryAnne raised their three children in Gilroy and enjoyed watching and supporting them in their own athletic and academic pursuits. When the kids were done with school and sports Rich began to focus on golf as his favorite warm weather time activity. He joined Bayonet and Blackhorse in Seaside. He also enjoyed annual Spring Training Baseball/Golf trips, Hawaiian vacations and spending time with his six grandchildren. He also took up snowboarding and loved to ride at Heavenly Valley Tahoe where he had learned to ski as a kid.

Rich will always be remembered for his amazing Christmas Eve Dinners (with multi page spreadsheets), his kind and quiet demeanor, his intelligence as well as strong opinions about certain subjects, his love of family and his love of new technology.

Rich is preceded in death by his parents Jay & Margie Ross, and is survived by his loving wife MaryAnne, daughters Rebecca Grounds (son in law Andrew Grounds, grandchildren Abigail and Samuel Grounds), Jessica Hall (son in law Justin Hall, grandchildren Miles, Logan, Jack and Gavin Hall), son, Jack Ross (daughter in law Sophy Ross), brother Steve Ross (sister in law Patsy Ross), sister Melinda Beahm, brother Byron Ross (sister in law Diane Ross), mother and father in law Sue and Jerry Martin, sisters in law Amy Mckibbin (brother in law Ted Mckibbin), Rebecca Woolsey, Jill Sommer (brother in law Bill Sommer), Pam Martin, and brother in law Mike Heffernan. Also beloved by his many nieces, nephews, and grand nieces and nephews.