Daniel J. Ross

November 10, 1950 – January 27, 2025

Daniel J. Ross, age 74, passed away unexpectedly of natural causes at his home in Newport on January 27, 2025.  He was a dedicated and beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, colleague, teacher, mentor, and friend.  While we are devastated at his passing, we are incredibly proud of the life that he lived, and the impact he had on everyone who knew him.

On October 9, 1999, he married the love of his life, Diane Davio, forming a beautiful close-knit family with their children and grandchildren.

Dan was born on November 10, 1950 to Dale Gibney, Sr., and Charlotte (Bronson) Gibney.  He spent much of his youth in the Newport, VT, area, graduating from North Country Union High School with the Class of 1969.

He obtained degrees at Vermont Technical College and Northeastern University, and pursued a career in civil engineering.  He worked at Stone & Webster in Boston, MA, as well as Chenette Engineering in Central Vermont.  He frequently worked on-site at several locations throughout the country, including Connecticut, New York, and Tennessee.  He and his family returned to Vermont in 1986, owning and operating Glen Road Grocery until 1993.

In 2000, he began his second career as a teacher.  It turned out that this was his true calling.  In the 23 years he worked at the North Country Career Center, teaching various classes, he became a beloved member of their community.  He was respected and admired by his colleagues and students alike.  He was so very proud of all his students' accomplishments, and he was always excited to talk about any new projects in which he was involved.  He was awarded the North Country Career Center teacher of the year in 2013.  Just prior to his retirement in 2023, he was celebrated by the entire school with a Mr. Ross Suspender Day, and many of his students and colleagues wore his signature outfit – suspenders with jeans.

Dan was also a fixture at Newport's City Hall.  He served on the City Council in two different eras – once in the 1990's under the mayorship of Doug Spates, and again in recent years under the mayorship of Paul Monette.  He also spent time working on the Planning Commission.  He had an unmatched passion for the history and the future of the City of Newport.  His family affectionately calls his home office "The Newport Room", since it contains a huge collection of books, prints, maps, postcards, and other items related to the City of Newport and its history.

Dan was a man of many talents and wore many hats, including a Santa cap when he filled in for Santa Claus and visited with children at Walmart during the Christmas season.  This was in addition to the time he spent working as a greeter at Walmart – his "second job" while he was still teaching – where he continued to make new friends and colleagues.

Above everything else, Dan loved his family.  Our memories of holiday gatherings over the years will be treasured forever.  Along with Diane, he always made sure that Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter were joyful and memorable, especially for the small children in the family.  Grampa would don the red suit and beard and briefly become Santa on Christmas morning.  On Easter, he would always expertly hide the eggs for the small children to find.  Pumpkin carving parties in the fall were also a beloved event.

Dan's children and grandchildren could always count on him to provide the right words of wisdom, comfort, or guidance whenever needed.  He was the rock and the heart of our family.  Whenever we were going through a hard time, he would immediately go into action, making sure that we were taken care of however we needed.

Dan also enjoyed the love and companionship of many cats and dogs over the years.  It was a long-running joke that he always picked up and snuggled any cat that crossed his path.
During his free time, he could always be counted on to have a crossword puzzle book in his hand – always completed with a pen.  He was also known to frequently fall asleep in his easy chair in front of the television.

He cherished spending time with Diane at home and in their yard, enjoying their spot on the South Bay portion of the Lake Memphremagog.  Dan and Diane also enjoyed travel, throughout New England, as well as New York, Tennessee, and Texas.  After Dan's retirement, he and Diane were able to visit Hildene, the Lincoln Family Home in Manchester Center, VT, which had been a lifelong dream of his, given his love of history.

Dan is cherished by his wife, best friend, and partner of 32 years, Diane Ross.  He is also deeply missed by his children: David Ross and his wife Holly of North Troy, Cathy Williams and her husband Dave of Clarks Summitt, PA, Heidi Broe and her husband Daniel of Newport, and Heather Piette and her husband JD of Colchester.  He is lovingly remembered by his grandchildren: Christopher Williams, Andrea Williams, Sean Paul Ross, David Ross II, Ethan Piette, Thomas Piette, Bailee Booth, Elizabeth Booth, Morgan Booth, Juliea Booth, and William Booth.  He also leaves behind two great-grandchildren, Paislee and Everly, as well as two more great-grandchildren who will be arriving later this year.  He is deeply mourned by his siblings, Jo Ann Daggett, Dale Gibney, Jr., Doris Gibney, and Arthur Gibney and his wife Jennifer.  He is also fondly remembered by his siblings-in-law, Dennis Davio and his wife Joann, Janet Vigeant, Donald Davio, and Cindy Davio, special niece Amber Davio, special friend Marty Gilbar, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended relatives.  He will also be missed by his dog, Izzie, and his cat, Ruby.

He was predeceased by his son, Robert Booth, Jr., in 2020, special great-niece, Ava Lawson, in 2010, and special great-nephew, Jordan Carpenter, in 2022.  He was also predeceased by his parents, grandparents, parents-in-law, and several aunts, uncles, and other extended relatives.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Friday, February 7th, 2025, at Curtis Britch & Bouffard Funeral Home at 4670 Darling Hill Road, Derby, with Pastor Larry Wall officiating.  All are cordially invited to wear Dan's signature outfit, suspenders with jeans.  Friends may call at the funeral home on February 7th, 2025, from 12:00 noon until the hour of the funeral.  There will be a gathering and refreshments after the services at the Cafeteria at North Country Union High School.

Interment will be scheduled at a later date in the Spring.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Robert L. Booth, Jr. Scholarship Foundation, ATTN Ken Johnson, Free Masons – Central Lodge 62, 4714 Vermont RT 14, Irasburg, VT, 05845.  On-line condolences at curtis-britch.com.