Thomas C. Ross

Thomas C. Ross, 83, Littleton, NH died at his home on Friday March 28, 2025, with his daughter at his side.  He was born in Littleton on September 11, 1941, to Richard and Louise (Chiarellie) Ross.  He grew up in Littleton, attending catholic schools and graduating from Littleton High School in 1959.  He went on to attend mortuary school at New England Institute of Anatomy, graduating in 1963.

He was an avid skier who served on the ski patrol at Cannon Mountain and Mittersill. He helped make the trails that many of us enjoy skiing on today.

Tom served his funeral directing apprenticeship in Hanover and Concord before returning to Littleton and opening Ross Funeral Home in 1967.  Tom was licensed as a funeral directior and embalmer in New Hampshire and Florida.  He was a member of the NH Funeral Directors Association serving as the organizations President in 1979. 

Tom was introduced to the world of Emergency Medical Services while serving his apprenticeship in Hanover, skills he honed working as a ski patroller at Cannon Mountain and responding to emergencies in the Littleton area in his hearse.  In 1968, The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons invited Tom Ross to participate in a pilot Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) course at Harvard University. Tom was one of 300 handpicked individuals from each state in the U.S. invited to attend this course.   He was invited to participate in the first NH DOT-sponsored EMT course, becoming a charter member of the National Registry of EMT’s in 1970 and instructed the first class of EMT’s in the Littleton area in 1971 at Littleton High School.  He was instrumental in establishing the FAST Squad system in Northern New Hampshire, encouraging town governments to establish squads and assisting them applying for federal grants.  Nearly every organization he help established is still serving their communities to this day.  He served on the Littleton Regional Hospital Board of Trustees and the NH EMS Coordinating Board.  He has received countless accolades and accommodations for his contributions to EMS in New Hampshire, including being appointed as an honorary Conservation Officer in NH Fish and Game for training personnel in emergency medical care in 1984.

Tom joined the Littleton Fire Department in 1964, retiring as the department’s Chief in 1996.  He was Justice of Peace, serving the Littleton area as a bail commissioner for decades.  Tom was a communicant at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church and a Forth Degree Knight of Columbus.  He loved NASCAR racing and once had held season tickets at the Earnhardt Tower at the Daytona  International Speedway.

Tom is predeceased by his parents, his wife Shelly Labonte, grandson Jonathan Dale Smith, and the mother of his children, Marcia E. Ross.  He is survived by his son Todd C. Ross of Sheffield, VT; his daughter Tammy C. Ross-Smith and her husband Adam of Littleton; two grandsons, Andrew and Christopher Smith of Littleton; two brothers, Donald Ross and his wife Darleen of Littleton, and David  Ross, a sister Linda Greenwood and husband Dona, Poughkeepsie, NY, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and his loyal dog Timmy.

Visiting hours will be Thursday April 3, 2025, from 5-7PM at Ross Funeral Home, 282 West Main St. Littleton, NH.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday April 4, 2025, at 11AM at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church followed by interment at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Cemetery. 

Those who wish may make donations in memory of Tom Ross to Riverside Animal Rescue, 236 Riverside Ave, Lunenburg, VT 05906 or or https://www.riversideanimalrescue.org/how-to-help https://www.riversideanimalrescue.org/how-to-help

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