Bob Ross died on July 23, 2025 in Nimbin NSW at the age of 94 years, after a brief period in residential care. He was born Robert Argent Ross in Broken Hill on April 15, 1931 and is remembered by his long, distinguished career in Science and Education, and as a great friend and colleague to all who knew him.

He achieved a BSc. and Dip.Ed at Sydney University in 1952/53, followed by an MSc. at New England University in 1960. He shifted overseas and took a PhD at London University in 1966. He became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry in 1967.

Bob started his teaching career in NSW high schools, before going to UNE as a Demonstrator in Chemistry. He left Australia to follow a career in Chemistry, becoming first a Research Fellow, then Lecturer, at the University of London. He later became Senior Lecturer then Reader in Chemistry in the new Open University's Faculty of Science.

In 1969 and 1970 Bob was President and honorary Research Fellow of the University College London Physical and Chemical Society. Through 1973 and 1974 he served as Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Staff and Student Affairs) at the UK Open University during which time he was on the University's Council as the academic staff elected representative. In 1981 he was Visiting Fellow at both the University of Sussex and the University of Dar es Salaam.

Bob returned to Australia, where his career was to become extensive and distinguished. He was appointed in 1974 to the newly-founded  Griffith University at its Nathan campus. For 18 years there until his retirement in 1994 he was the Director of the Centre for the Advancement of Learning and Teaching (CALT). He was also that University's Acting Vice-Chancellor, Assistant Vice Chancellor and Pro-Vice-Chancellor as well as convenor and Chairman of a number of committees. Bob served on the Griffith University Council and was Deputy Vice chancellor for some four years.

He was made an Honorary Life Member of Griffith University Staff Association in 1994 and in 1998 a Life Member of the National Tertiary Education Union in recognition of  his service to the Union. In June 1994 he was granted the title of Professor Emeritus by Griffith University Council "in recognition of his distinguished contribution to scholarship and to the service of the University and the community."

Bob's career is especially notable for his contribution to the advancement of university teaching and learning. He first worked with UNE to develop programmes for Academic Staff on Teaching and Learning at what became Southern Cross University campus. Then beginning in 1976 he served 2 years as president of the Higher Education Research and Development Association (HERDSA).

During his busy academic life in Australia, Bob also visited overseas, making contributions to universities in China and Thailand by invitation. He also found time to write chapters in published books and research publications in Chemistry as well as conference papers, texts and guides to university teaching and learning.

After leaving Griffith in 1994, and before starting his proper retirement in 1995, Bob's last contribution was to become Pro-Vice Chancellor Quality Assurance at Newcastle University. After that he spent a happy year backpacking overseas, enjoying the freedom and delights of unburdened travel.

One of Bob's great loves  was folk music. He picked up a fiddle in his 60s after having not touched it since early high school.  Each Easter would find him at the five-day National Folk Festival where he could be heard with others playing his fiddle in the bar into the early hours. He loved Australian poetry and on social evenings at education conferences he could inevitably be heard reciting by heart one or other of Banjo Paterson's poems, to his audience's great delight.

In his retirement Bob discovered a love for ceramics and spent many years getting his hands into clay. He loved the Australian bush and into his nineties one could often find him camping in a three man tent, where he would happily sleep on a thin mat.

Bob spent a happy retirement living in rural bliss with his devoted partner Brigitte in their always-open home, up among the rainforest trees, surrounded by his friends in Lillifield Community, in Kyogle Shire of northern New South Wales.

Bob is survived by two daughters, Amanda and Sarah, by Amanda's daughter Aleea, and by his partner Brigitte and her son Sean. He will be remembered with admiration and affection by countless of the friends and associates whose lives he touched in a long, productive and varied career.

Bob Ross was a truly remarkable man; humble, unpretentious, genuine, greatly talented and immensely likeable. He was someone whom we were very fortunate to have known and lucky to have been among those whose  lives were made the richer by his friendship.

Bob's life will be celebrated at a grand farewell function at Lillifield hall, Wadesville, on Saturday August 30th. 2025

Lee Andresen
Retired, Professional Development Centre, UNSW