This Sunday is Father’s Day, and it brings to my mind the lyrics of “Oh My Papa,” a popular song in the 1950’s performed by Eddie Fisher---“Oh my papa, to me he was so wonderful, oh my papa, to me he was so good … Deep in my heart I miss him so today.” I guess that about sums up my feelings towards my Dad who died almost 11 years ago.
Dave Ross grew up as a Jew in a predominantly Italian neighborhood in Brooklyn. He was the youngest of seven children. He worked like a dog during the summer months in the Catskill Mountains, briefly attended the University of Virginia before dropping out, and joined his brother-in-law’s business before risking all and starting his own company in 1948.
Dad’s business, Evans Rule Company, became the largest manufacturer of steel measuring tapes and folding wooden rules in the world. If in the 1950’s and 1960’s you bought a steel tape from a Sears store, then by far this country’s biggest hardware retailer, you were buying one made by my Dad’s company.
But what made Dad special is he didn’t define himself by his financial success. I remember asking him near the end of his life what were his happiest moments. He talked about my becoming mayor, my brother Phil's getting into Princeton, and, of course, his four grandchildren. Not once did he talk about his building a public company from scratch.
Dad was a generous human being. He supported many charities and was financially there for our extended family. Despite his humble beginnings, he developed a sophisticated taste in art and opera. But he never forgot his origins. He cared about people, and looked out for ways to help those who were having a rough time.
He was a people person and couldn’t ride two floors in an elevator without making conversation with a complete stranger. Dad was curious, enthusiastic, full of life, and rarely felt neutral about anything. If chocolate ice cream were his favorite flavor, he couldn’t understand why everybody in the world wouldn’t like chocolate ice cream best.
Dad was the true patriarch of the family. We could all lean on him, and he wouldn’t break. He was our rock and dependable as could be.
Deep in my heart I miss him so today.
