Ellen and David Ross

In June 1970, David and Ellen Ross packed up their new air-conditioned Volvo, tucked their three-week old son into a backseat baby bed and began a circuitous three-month trip from Massachusetts to Texas via Georgia, South Carolina, and Ohio. Ellen had agreed to the move with the proviso that their Texas stint would last no more than five years. As if on cue, the moment they crossed the border into the Lone Star State, the Volvo's air-conditioner froze-up and ceased cooling. The landscape, punctuated by oil pumps and laconic cattle grazing on flat, dusty land was devoid of trees or greenery. Mirage shimmered in waves. The temperature continued to rise. The silence in the car was deafening as the reality of their decision sunk in. Little did they know that their Houston interlude would morph into a fascinating fifty-one-year stay.

Ellen ran an oil company credit union, did freelance technical editing, was the managing partner of a consulting firm, and sat on non-profit boards including the Hospice at The Texas Medical Center and Theatre Workshop of Nantucket. Now retired, she pursues her interests in writing and photography and has published The Moment Whispers, a book of poems and photographs. She is currently co-authoring a manuscript with WCL resident Frank Troy, who coincidentally was in the Army with David.

After receiving his MBA from Harvard Business School, David spent his business career as a corporate financial officer. He was a principal in the Sterling Group and founder of the Sterling Consulting Group, a firm that provided statistical analysis to the oil and gas industry. From 1979 until 2004 he was an adjunct professor of finance at the Jesse Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University where he taught the capstone finance course in the MBA program. He has served as a director on several NYSE boards, and various non-profit boards, including The Nantucket Conservation Foundation, The Nantucket Atheneum, and the finance committee of the US Olympic Committee.

Ellen is from Cedar Knolls, New Jersey; David is from Queens, New York. They met at the National Smallbore Rifle Championships. David’s interest in target shooting began at summer camp. Ellen was introduced to the sport by her father, a competitive shooter, who coached the local junior rifle club. David captained his high school and college (Yale) rifle teams. Commissioned into the Medical Service Corp in 1963, he was later assigned to the US Army Marksmanship Training Unit at Fort Benning for three years. After leaving active duty, he became a member of the US Army Reserve International Rifle Team for an additional twelve years and ended his military career with the rank of Major. He represented the United States in numerous international events including the 1976 Olympics. Before retiring from the sport, David and Ellen held national and international titles along with individual and team records.

David and Ellen continue to spend extended summers on Nantucket as they have since they first visited the Grey Lady in 1989.  And what happened to that baby in the backseat all those years ago? Well, he survived those months on the road while his dad was on Army assignments and, in spite of his parents’ ineptitude, grew and prospered. He is an independent cyber-security consultant and now lives in Maryland. He and his wife have gifted the Rosses with three amazing grandchildren, and an adorable grand puppy.