In Memoriam: Gerald ‘Jerry’ Ross, founder of MGR Equipment Corp. 

Gerald “Jerry” Ross, founder of Long Island, New York-based equipment manufacturer MGR Equipment Corp. died March 14 at 92 years old.

Ross was born in 1931 in Brooklyn, where he attended Brooklyn Tech, excelling at both his studies and wrestling. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from Cornell University, and served in the Army as a lieutenant during the Korean War. In 1956, he married Mimi Auskern, and they remained married for 45 years until Mimi passed away in 2001. Ross was a father to three children: Glen (Heather), Andrew and Robert (Mary). He was grandfather to Tony, Sarah, Shelley, Jake and Carolyn.

In 1976, Ross founded MGR Equipment Corp., a manufacturer of specialty refrigeration and ice storage equipment, which continues today under Robert’s management.

In lieu of flowers and/or gifts, the Rosses request donations to The Nature Conservancy, 142 E. Hampton Sag Harbor Turnpike, East Hampton, NY 11937, nature.org/en-us/, and The Shelter Island Education Foundation, P.O. Box 1950, Shelter Island, NY 11964, shelterislandedfoundation.org.