From the FSU Website, seminoles.com. Obituary for David Brisby Ross
Published by Johnson Funeral Home
Mr. David B. Ross, 68, of Lake Wales, Florida, died on
Tuesday, September 2, 2014, at Winter Haven Hospital after a valiant fight
with cancer. He was born on September 20, 1945 to William and Jane Ross in
Ford City, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Lawrence Park High School in
Erie in 1964. He earned a full basketball scholarship to Florida State
University where he helped the Seminoles to a berth in the NCAA Division 1
Regional Tournament. He continued his education with master’s degrees from
Gannon University and Edinboro University. David began his career at
Harborcreek Youth Services, a residential treatment center for youths, as a
school administrator. He then moved to the Harbor Creek School District
becoming a school principal and retired as a technology coordinator. During
his time in Erie, he coached Junior Varsity and Varsity basketball at
Iroquois High School, was a PIAA referee for high school and college, and
worked numerous basketball camps throughout the area. Basketball was an
integral part of David’s life and he was considered to be one of the best
basketball players of his era. The Erie Times News chose him as one of the
best 100 athletes of the century in 1999. He was inducted into the Erie
Metropolitan Sports Hall of Fame in 2008. He also was inducted into the
WILP (Wesleyville, Iroquois, Lawrence Park) Athletic Hall of Fame. David
was the recipient of the John Post Award in 2013. Upon his retirement,
David and his wife moved from Harborcreek, Pennsylvania, to Lake Wales,
Florida. He became very active with his community, serving as the president
of the Lake Ashton Homeowners’ Association, and was a member of Catholic
Church of Saint Matthew in Winter Haven. David is survived by his beloved
wife of forty-one years Linda L. Ross, daughters Melynda Ciafre and husband
Anthony Ciafre of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Rebecca Ryan and husband
Lieutenant Craig Ryan, U.S. Navy of Virginia Beach, Virginia, two
grandchildren Gianna and Graham Ciafre, sisters Linda Ross and Rena Murtha
both of Suffern, New York, brothers Bruce Ross and wife Sharon of
Greensboro, Georgia, and Robert Ross and wife Debbie of Erie, Pennsylvania,
and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents.
