Ross, Hamilton Stickney of St. Paul, died on Nov. 21st, 2014 surrounded by his family and holding the hand of his loving, devoted wife of 67 years, Sally. Ham was born on March 3rd, 1920 in Beloit WI, spent most of his young life in Geneva, IL. After graduating from Lake Forest Academy, and attending the University of Virginia, Ham served in the US Army from 1943 to 1946 as a tank commander and instructor. After meeting on their beloved Madeline Island in 1945, Ham and Sally were married in St. Paul on Nov. 29th, 1947 and began their family life together. Ham worked in the insurance industry for 40 years, as a partner in the Caswell Ross Agency. He was very involved in the life of his community, serving on many boards and committees over the years. Of all his civic service, Ham was most proud of being a founding member of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and a long standing member of its board. He also served twice on the Board of Trustees of the Unity Unitarian Church, once as its chairman. He was also a key member of its Building Committee. Ham loved music, from Bach and Beethoven to Benny Goodman. He loved to sing, and sang with Twin Cities Bach Society in its early days. He loved the theater and acting, attending and performing skits and plays at church and with other groups. A natural athlete, Ham was a strong and graceful skier, a wise sailor, and an accomplished lifelong tennis player. He was part of the original group that bought and transformed the St. Paul Tennis Club into what it is today. Ham had a lifelong love of Lake Superior, and most particularly his 93 summers on Madeline Island. From rowing as a young boy, to sailing with his grandchildren, he and Sally created many strong extended family traditions, and more memories on the Island than can be counted. He was also very proud of being one of the founding members of the island's South Shore Tennis Club. The most important thing in his life was his family. Ham was preceded in death by his parents Hamilton and Dorothy (Stickney) Ross, his two sisters Anne (Doring) and Dorothy (Donner), and his brother Edward. Ham is survived by his wife Sally (Sarah Baker), his 4 children James (Camille Didier), Hamilton (Constance Tiesberg), Sarah Caruso (Richard Hurrelbrink), and Mary (Jon Berg). He is also survived by his seven grandchildren, James and Elizabeth Ross, Alice and Elizabeth Ross, Michael, Sally and David Caruso, and many nieces, nephews and extended family members. A memorial service is planned for December 22 at 2 PM, Unity Church -Unitarian in St. Paul. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Madeline Island Library, the Madeline Island Museum, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and Unity Church. Ham's family wishes to extend a special thanks to the loving and skilled staff at Cooke House of the Episcopal Church Home in St. Paul for their care. A sympathy note sent to the family best expressed all of our feelings about Ham, "I've never met a better man."