John D. Ross III, JD, 67

John D. Ross III, JD, also known as Jack, passed away peacefully on Aug. 6, 2012, after a short but courageous battle with cancer, only 24 days before his 68th birthday. Diagnosed only two months ago, he moved from Coeur d’Alene home to Pocatello, where he spent his last days laughing, joking, singing and dancing with his children and grandchildren.

Born in West Chester, Pa., on Aug. 30, 1944, to John D. Ross Sr. and Betty Catherine Marvel, Jack spent most of his childhood following (literally) in his father’s footsteps, whom Jack referred to as “Rapid Ross.” It was through his father’s teachings that he learned the discipline of hard work, ingenuity and humility. “Keep your eye on that great speckled bird in the sky,” his father always said. Jack’s mother was an artist and homemaker, whom adoringly referred to her son as Jackie. She gave him the gift of compassion and unconditional love that he would one day give liberally to his own children. Jack loved and appreciated his parents and they, him.

Jack was a natural born writer, lover of literature and advocate for the equality of all living things. As the eldest of three children, he admired his brother, Bobby and adored his sister, Lynn. Although an athlete, Jack was a highly intelligent and gifted boy with a small frame and handsome face. As a child, his mother would often have to force him to put a book down, a passion for knowledge that continued to grow throughout his life. He was a sensitive intellectual from the beginning to the end of his days.

A paper route marked the start of a dedicated relationship to his work. Employed as a cook, Jack supported himself through his education at the University of Pennsylvania, graduating with a B.A. in English Literature on a full-tuition academic scholarship in 1966. He then went on to work as a research assistant as he obtained a JD from the prestigious Georgetown Law Center in Washington, D.C., in 1969, where he was third in his class.

Throughout his legal career, which began on the east coast and later carried him across the country to the wild west, Jack approached all of his cases with his whole heart. Though he worked in private practice and also as a public defender, his life’s devotion was to his work as an Indian Rights Lawyer. He began his career at the then recently formed Native American Rights Fund in Washington, D.C., and later on Capitol Hill, where he worked to improve federal Indian law and policy. Upon moving West, Jack advocated for, among other Tribes, the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes in Fort Hall, the Coeur d’Alene Tribe and the Spokane Tribe.

In the course of his work, he took on many formidable opponents including the United States, the state of Idaho and giant corporations in furtherance of his mission to defend the basic human rights of others. He will be remembered as a selfless and humble spirit. Jack had a democratic disposition and an ardor for the equality of all peoples and creatures and cared greatly for the betterment of his country and of the world. Jack’s soul was that of a Native American’s, his heart, that of a weeping willow tree. He touched many lives with his goodness and his work on this Earth will never be bygone.

Idolized and deeply loved by his children, forever cherished will be his eloquent speech, humor, understanding, support, love for all creatures and kinship with nature, as well as his love for the New Yorker Magazine and mint chocolate chip ice-cream.

Jack was preceded in death by his late wife’s: Dr. Michelle Canaday Mitchell and Janice Bernstein, and also by his parents. He is survived by his brother, Robert Marvel Ross and sister Linda Ross. He also leaves behind his aunt, Gussie; his niece, Jasmine; his ex-wife and mother of four of his children, Colleen Holbrook; daughters, Heather Louise, Alyssa Cynthia (her husband Will Ortiz), Catherine Marjorie and Gabrielle Breanna; sons, Ashley Holbrook, Dustin Holbrook and John D. Ross IV; and his grandchildren, Alex, Lindsey, Madison, Dustin Jr., Matthew, Mason, Gage, Isabella and Raven. Jack is also survived by many clients, friends and admirers.

A service will be held for Jack at 11 a.m. today, Aug. 11, 2012, at the Central Christian Church in Pocatello. His ashes will be spread under a willow tree by his seven children, a place where Jack wished to rest. For information or condolences contact daughters, Alyssa Ortiz and Catherine Ross at catatatboom@gmail.com.

A gracious thank you goes out from his family to his colleagues, friends, Dylan R. Hedden-Nicely (his adored protégé), Encompass Hospice (Jack’s Hospice team: Cara, Courtney, Toni, Chaplin Michael and his “best man,” Danny), the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, and all of the people, animals and trees that kept Jack comforted and protected in his last days.