When Julia joined the blog, we did not realize that she was a two-for-one deal: We were also getting her husband, Ross. For a while, we all scratched our heads. Who was this curly-redheaded dynamo so full of energy and pizzazz? We learned soon enough that Ross was the king of social media with a wonderful motto: "All for one and one for all! Mwahhhh!"
He built the Jungle Red Twitter account up from nothing when the rest of us simply didn't have the time. He showed up at conferences and pitched in with greatest enthusiasm. Who could ever forget his appearance on the Jungle Red game show "Family Feud?" (Rhys can say more on the topic, as he was on her team...) He celebrated every one of our releases as though they were Julia's. And we grew to admire him as a father and a husband and a teacher, too. His death is a great loss and our hearts go out to Julia, and their children, and relatives and friends.
Readers who didn't have the chance to meet Ross might enjoy this post he wrote in 2012 as part of our "men of Jungle Red" mini-series.
Godspeed Ross, we loved you and we'll miss you so!
HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Oh, Ross! The funniest person on the planet. Or, maybe, since I think back on our times together, on any planet. Ross was hilarious, completely and totally hilarious, with the wackiest sense of humor--and what made it even funnier was that we knew know whether he was being funny or saying something seriously. At one Jungle Red panel, Family Feud, we were supposed to name a person in a mystery whose name began with J.
Ross said "Jean Paul Belmondo."
We all roared with laughter--but he was baffled.
"Why is that funny?" he asked.
Quirky and brilliant and unpredictable and full of love in every way. And adored Julia, beyond all description.
Yes, Godspeed. It makes me so sad even to type this. This photo says it all.
HALLIE EPHRON: An irrepressible force, Ross was
ebullient and effervescent to Julia's calm warmth. Funny. Unpredictable.
Enthusiastic, charming, and so much fun.
In the early days of Jungle Red he proclaimed
himself our Cabana Boy and Tweeter-in-Chief. I can only imagine what a great
teacher he was and a great dad. Watching him and Julia together we knew they
had something very special.
He'll be much missed.
RHYS BOWEN: Oh yes, I miss the days of our Cabana Boy Ross. He was so enthusiastic about everything he did. Big smile on his face and boundless energy. I'll never forget his part in our Jungle Red panel games at Bouchercon, either bounding across the auditorium to give someone a prize or participating on the panel himself. When I was on his panel I had no idea what he'd say next! Never what one expected.
Question: what kind of evidence might be found at a crime scene?
Rhys is about to answer something thoughtful when Ross yells in triumph "Circumstantial!"
There are too few quirky, witty one-of-a-kind people in this world of conformity. Ross reminded me of those intrepid Englishmen who scaled mountains and crossed continents a century ago. My heart goes out to Julia and the children. Even to me, who only knew him slightly, it feels as if the sun has dimmed a little on our planet.
DEBORAH CROMBIE: Oh, Ross. Such energy, and wit, and kindness. I would love to have known him as a litigator, but even more as a teacher. I could never think of him without smiling, and I miss the days when we never knew what he would tweet for Jungle Red next! Irrepressible is the word that comes to mind, and if anyone ever lived life fully, it would have been Ross. I, too, feel that a light has gone out. My heart is breaking for our lovely Julia and the kids.
RHYS BOWEN: Oh yes, I miss the days of our Cabana Boy Ross. He was so enthusiastic about everything he did. Big smile on his face and boundless energy. I'll never forget his part in our Jungle Red panel games at Bouchercon, either bounding across the auditorium to give someone a prize or participating on the panel himself. When I was on his panel I had no idea what he'd say next! Never what one expected.
Question: what kind of evidence might be found at a crime scene?
Rhys is about to answer something thoughtful when Ross yells in triumph "Circumstantial!"
There are too few quirky, witty one-of-a-kind people in this world of conformity. Ross reminded me of those intrepid Englishmen who scaled mountains and crossed continents a century ago. My heart goes out to Julia and the children. Even to me, who only knew him slightly, it feels as if the sun has dimmed a little on our planet.
DEBORAH CROMBIE: Oh, Ross. Such energy, and wit, and kindness. I would love to have known him as a litigator, but even more as a teacher. I could never think of him without smiling, and I miss the days when we never knew what he would tweet for Jungle Red next! Irrepressible is the word that comes to mind, and if anyone ever lived life fully, it would have been Ross. I, too, feel that a light has gone out. My heart is breaking for our lovely Julia and the kids.
