Following on from the death of her husband Bob Ross in June, Eve Ross passed away peacefully on Sunday 24 November 2024 after a short illness, surrounded by her family.
Eve was still in good spirits on Friday, receiving visitors between naps. She was a force in life – one of a kind – the very traits that Bob found so attractive. They were inseparable and totally dedicated to each other and their blended family. Eve loved her family – they were number one with her – and she stayed proud of the children and their children to the end.
While Bob was a member of the CYCA for over 50 years, Eve decided to join under her own steam, which she did in early 1994. She was also a member of the CYCA Associates Committee for a time and enjoyed it.
Eve and Bobby’s marriage was strong from the word go and their partnership extended to Bobby’s work and sailing. Wherever Bob went, Eve was there too. She drove Bob to all his assignments in NSW and drove the Australian Sailing RIB so he could concentrate on his job. She told just last week: “I adored him.”
Over the years you would see Bob and his wife Eve on Sydney Harbour, covering races from Bobby’s RIB. Bobby wrote and took photos – Eve next to him changing film rolls and batteries in cameras, holding cameras, changing lenses – whatever it took. Then back to the CYCA where Bob would conduct further interviews and Eve socialised. She loved people.
Marcus Blackmore described it beautifully last night: “Eve was always by Bob’s side, two great pillars of our sailing world.”
Bob travelled a lot for his work and Eve, or Eva, as he called her, was more than happy to go along. And as he admitted to me once, “I couldn’t have done what I did without her.” They went to America’s Cup, Clipper/Kenwood Cup, Admiral’s Cup and more. They were loved by the international sailing media and often put them up at their home in Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills over the Sydney Hobart and Christmas period.
Eve was a social butterfly and organised many a SINS (Society of International Nautical Scribes – formed by the late Bob Fisher, Angie Antrobus, Rob Mundle and others) party in Australia and all over the world. A great entertainer, Eve often did the catering.
One such party was in Fremantle, Western Australia in 1986, during the America’s Cup Challenger Series and it was huge, as every media person from around the world was in town.
Eve never left anyone out of a party. She was thoughtful that way. Again, in Freo, as the only female member of Syd Fischer’s America’s Cup team, I craved other company at times and Eve always made sure to invite me along to birthdays and whatever celebration to she was cooking up, knowing how it was. She did that for others too and we appreciated it.
Christmas at the house in Surry Hills was the same, great company and great food. Through that and sailing with Eve and Bobby, I got to know the family well and although we lost touch as each went their own ways, we reacquainted just before Bobby’s funeral and it was like old times as the memories flooded back..
Eve will be missed by all who knew her – vivacious, strong, kind and a staunch ally. She is survived by her and Bobby’s combined seven children and their children.
Written by: Di Pearson
