JoAnne Ross

JoAnne Ross, 73, was born in Detroit, Michigan on February 18, 1952 and passed away on August 8, 2025 having lost her battle to acute myeloid leukemia. She was preceded in death by her youngest sister, Susan Ellen Smith and parents Betty and Ivan Ross. She is survived by her sisters Mary Ann Rosenberger and Katherine Kiousis, their husbands David Rosenberger and John Kiousis, and her closest friend Deb Cross.

JoAnne grew up in Birmingham, MI and began playing the viola in grade school. Through her junior high, high school and early college years, she was trained by Messrs. Hubicki and Fenstermacher, both members of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. JoAnne is a graduate of Birmingham Seaholm High School and Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, MI, where she majored in music and education.

Following college, she began her teaching career in the Detroit Public Schools. By 1980, JoAnne moved to Evanston, Illinois to begin graduate work at Northwestern, where she lived the remainder of her life. For 27 years, JoAnne taught orchestral music and string instruments at Culver School, Niles, IL and tutored private students. During these years, she played in the Lake Forest Symphony, Lake Forest, IL and Northbrook Symphony, Northbrook, IL. For 40 years, JoAnne was a member of the Highland Park Strings, Highland Park, IL having never missed a concert, which included the group's trips to Italy, Mexico and Israel. An inscribed brick was given in JoAnne's honor located at Ravinia. Also, as a string quartet member, JoAnne enjoyed playing at special events in the Chicago area.

Although JoAnne was first and foremost a musician, she was a natural athlete and competitor. As a downhill and cross-country skier, she earned medals in Colorado and Utah. As an equestrian, JoAnne and her horse, Prompt, won numerous ribbons in hunter/jumper competitions. Her proximity to Lake Michigan provided years of enjoyment sailing. JoAnne's activities in kayaking, water skiing, rollerblading, camping, rock climbing, tennis, and golf also exhibited her athleticism.

JoAnne's life included caring for animals. In addition to her life-long love of horses, her two rescue German shepherds, Sargeant and Ivan, filled her life at home and in her travels.

During her 13 years of retirement in addition to music and sports, JoAnne dedicated herself serving in the First Presbyterian Church Evanston soup kitchen on a weekly basis.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the First Presbyterian Church Evanston Souper Saturday will be appreciated.