Ross Alexander Williamson, 27, of Bolton, CT and North Truro, MA died Saturday, September 29, 2018 at Ballston Beach on Cape Cod after being swept into the water by a heavy surf.
A perfect day for Ross was walking Ballston Beach to Newcomb Hollow watching waves crashing as seagulls flew across blue sky punctuated with white puffy clouds, piping plovers scampering along the sand, pebbles rolling down the dunes and seals popping up to seemingly follow his travels. That’s exactly the day he found last Saturday.
Ross attended Bolton Schools, E.O. Smith STAAR Program, Holiday Hill Summer Day Camp and audited courses at University of Connecticut.
For his high school Community Service Project, Ross collected, laundered and shipped over 6,000 Beanie Babies to US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Those Beanie Babies were shared with children as part of the humanitarian peace efforts. His contribution was acknowledged by the National Police Transition Team, Iraq; the Griffin Team, Combat Advisors, Iraq; the Regional Brigade Advisory Team, Afghanistan; and SEAL Team 7.
Ross worked at UConn Dining Services and volunteered at UConn Burton Football Complex, Creative Living Community of CT Greenhouse and Tara Farms, under the auspices of Horizons. Summers on Cape Cod, he attended CapeAbilities.
He enjoyed horseback riding, bowling, golf, track, especially distance running, swimming, sailing and kayaking. He joined his father at Aikido of Connecticut where his favorite part of class was randori. He was a fan of the Red Sox, Patriots, and UConn Women’s Basketball and Hockey. He was passionate about books, classical music, the weather, full moons and sunsets.
Ross loved traveling and visiting museums, from the Seattle Space Needle to the Pilgrim Monument, Provincetown; lighthouses, from Nova Scotia to St. Augustine; parks, from Volcano National Park, Hawaii to Yellowstone to Central Park; Duck Tours from Austin to Washington, DC; and beaches from the North Shore on Oahu and Onekahakaha on the Big Island to Cape Cod.
He is survived by his parents Lee and Lynn Williamson, with whom he shared his home; brother and sister-in-law Gregory and Cholla Foote, niece Olivia, nephew Dylan of Cape Elizabeth, ME; aunts and uncles Steven Tourtillotte and Patricia McClain of Marlborough, CT, James and Lauri Tourtillotte of Spokane, WA; and cousins Jennifer, Mark, Michael and Alexander Spencer of Spokane, WA and Jessica and Sean Cossano of Seattle WA. Ross was predeceased by his grandparents Leslie and Nellie Williamson of Bolton, CT; Shirley and Patricia Tourtillotte of Marlborough, CT; and uncle Robert Tourtillotte of Orlando, FL.
For their extraordinary efforts, the family would like to thank Truro Fire and Rescue, Truro Police, National Park Service, Coast Guard, MA State Police, volunteers and complete strangers in Truro who are no longer strangers. The family is ever grateful for the support, love and assistance from wonderful neighbors and friends.
Donations may be made to ‘Colchester Special Olympics’, c/o The Wrinns, 32 O’Connell Road, Colchester, CT. 06415.
A Celebration of Ross’ Life is scheduled for Saturday, October 27, 2018, 12:00 noon - 2:00pm at Georgina’s Restaurant, Bolton, CT. Casual dress is encouraged. Burial will be private.