Bernard Ross, age 94, of Heritage Village, Southbury, passed away peacefully Friday, April 4, 2014, with his family by his side. Bernie is survived by his children, Daniel Ross and his wife Julie of Slingerlands, New York and his daughter Janet Greene and her husband Ira of Kew Garden Hills, New York. He also leaves his grandchildren Andy Greene and his wife Catherine of Queens, New York, and Kyle and Ian Ross of Denver, Colorado. He was recently predeceased by his loving wife of 63 years, Florence. Bernie was born in Corona, Queens, New York on August 11, 1919 the son of Minnie and Paul Rosenberg. Early on as a young boy he displayed a natural musical talent for playing the trumpet that his mother Minnie, an opera singer helped him develop into a professional career as a musician and teacher and which became a part of him throughout his entire life. After taking trumpet lessons from the leading classical players of his time, Bernie embarked on a lifetime of playing every type of music from Big Band Dances in New York City of the 1930s, to the Borscht Belt of the Catskill Hotels, to the Pit Orchestras of Broadway Musicals of the 1940s and 50s, to the early days of live television, to literally thousands and weddings and Bar - Mitzvahs on weekends , and finally playing in the Tri-Bury Orchestra along with other local groups including for his beloved friends at Heritage Village for over twenty two years. Bernie was a World War Two veteran of the South Pacific where he served on Saipan Island until the war ended. Upon returning from the war he obtained his Master's Degree in Music Education from New York University and began a twenty - five year teaching career in the public school system of Hawthorne, New Jersey. There he introduced thousands of young students to instrumental music as he taught, led the school bands, and became a beloved part of that community although he continued to live in Queens and commuted all those years across the George Washington Bridge at 6 AM. When Bernie finally moved out of Queens with Florence at the age of 72 to Heritage Village it turned out to be the beginning of a whole new and fulfilling chapter in their lives. In his retirement his life was filled with all of the pursuits he had never had time for - Woodworking, Sculpture, Stained Glass, Photography, and travel around the country and the world with Florence. Most importantly to him were the relationships that he formed with his fellow residents at Heritage Village where he was affectionately known as "Mr. Heritage Village" to all who knew him or heard him play his music over the years.

Cemetery: Farband Cemetery

Location: Munson-Lovetere Southbury

Services: Funeral services will be held Tuesday, April 8 at 1: 30 p.m. at the Southbury Funeral Home of Munson-Lovetere, 235 Main St. North. Burial will follow in Farband Cemetery, Morris.