Barry Allen Ross

Barry A. Ross, beloved husband of Karen, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, October 30^th.  He was born in Nashville, TN on September 3, 1945 to H.E. and Ruth Ross; grew up in Murfreesboro and graduated from Middle Tennessee State University.  He pursued a career in sales and marketing before going into association management.  He and his first wife, Carol, welcomed their son Philip in 1968.  Barry spent over 25 years in telecommunications public policy and association member services in Washington, D.C., Lincoln, NE and Sacramento, CA, ending his professional career as Executive Vice President of the California Telephone Association.  He served as interim executive director of the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation, owner of a UPS Store in Rocklin and a brief time as a licensed professional fiduciary. 

Barry retired when he and Karen relocated to Washington, D.C. where she served in the Obama Administration.  They returned to Sacramento in 2011 when Karen was appointed as Secretary of Agriculture by Governor Jerry Brown.  He enjoyed meeting new people when he took up rowing as a member of the River City Rowing Club where his friends, Jim and Darrel, became his golfing buddies and introduced him to a Wednesday night poker group.

Barry loved gathering friends at the table for a good meal, wine and conversation. He loved walking his dog, Missy, visiting with neighbors and attending/hosting a gourmet group made up of special friends for over twenty years.   He and Karen had many memorable travels in which food and wine and laughs were prominent!

In addition to his wife, Barry is survived by his son, Phil, his grandchildren Jack and Amelia of Kansas City, KS, two nieces and his former wife, Carol. He loved Karen’s brothers, sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews, spending happy times visiting the farm where she grew up in western Nebraska. He was preceded in death by his parents and the older sister he adored, Renee, who died in September.  In his memory, contributions may be made to Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services.