Richard Loring Ross, affectionately known as Rick, passed away peacefully on April 28, 2026, in Penfield, New York, at the age of 76. Born on October 2, 1949, in Rochester, New York, Rick was the son of Oliver Ross and Marie Oetzel Ross.

Rick began his career in 1969 at Gleason Works in Rochester, where he worked as a machinist for two decades. His expertise and dedication to his craft led him to Liberty Precision Tool and Die before he made the decision to move to Rock Hill, South Carolina in 1999. There, he worked with D.O.C. Machine Tool Services for several years before founding his own business, Rick's Machine and Tool Service. After retiring from the tool and die industry, Rick returned to the Rochester area and found joy in driving for Uber and Lyft. He relished the opportunity to connect with passengers, sharing stories and showcasing his deep knowledge of the region.

Rick's ingenuity was one of his defining traits. He had an extraordinary ability to fix almost anything and often created his own tools when none existed for the task at hand. Even during his illness, Rick's resourcefulness shone through as he devised ways to adapt his surroundings for greater ease and accessibility.

A man of many interests, Rick enjoyed watching and listening to inspirational speakers and had a lifelong love of music—especially jazz. Known for singing along to nearly any song, even when he was less than sure of the lyrics, Rick's musical spirit brought joy to those around him. He had a great singing voice and could often play a song by ear on the keyboard. Rick also enjoyed supporting his grandchildren's musical endeavors. Over the years, Rick attended many piano recitals, band concerts, and musicals. He especially enjoyed listening to his grandson Eli play the guitar. In his younger years, Rick enjoyed playing tennis, bowling, archery and skiing, as well as swimming in Canandaigua Lake. He spent many Sunday afternoons playing backgammon or chess with his children. Rick also had a talent for humor; he was always ready with a joke for any occasion—even if it was one you'd heard before.

Spirituality became increasingly important to Rick later in life. While he attended Christ Unity Church as a child in Rochester, he preferred a more personal approach to faith as an adult. He explored teachings from various ministers and scholars from the comfort of home, finding solace and inspiration in their words.

Rick is survived by his son Christopher Ross; his daughter Kerri Ross-McGuire and her husband Matthew; and three beloved grandchildren: Julia (Justinn Cialini), Fiona, and Eli Ross-McGuire. He is also survived by his ex-wife Dawn Petersen-Bowler and dear friend Katy Howard Lim. Preceding him in death were his parents Oliver Ross and Marie Oetzel Ross, and his sister, Letticia "Tish" Brynes.

Rick's family would like to thank the staff of Rochester Regional Hospice who provided compassionate care for him over the last few months. The nurses, social workers, chaplain, and especially his aide, Roxanne, were a great source of comfort.

Rick will be fondly remembered by his friends and family. His humor, resourcefulness, kindness, and love of life left an indelible mark on those who knew him.

A Celebration of Life will be held on May 16, 2026, at 1:00 PM at The Unitarian Universalist Church of Canandaigua, 3024 Cooley Road. Calling hours will be from 1:00-2:00, followed by a service at 2:00. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Gathering Place Webster 570 Klem Rd. Webster, NY 14580.

To share a memory or express condolences online, please visit www.fullerfh.com