Keene, NH- Ross Edward Patterson of Keene, NH, passed away on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, at the Jack Byrne Center for Palliative and Hospice Care in Lebanon, NH.

Ross was born on January 10, 1958, at Fitkin Hospital in Neptune, NJ, to Alice May Lindsley Tinker and James A. Patterson. He began his education at Shark River Hills Elementary and Ocean Grove Middle School before the family moved to New Hampshire, where he attended Westmoreland School. After relocating to Acworth, NH, Ross graduated from Fall Mountain Regional High School in Langdon.

A gifted student with a passion for the arts, Ross twice attended the prestigious Advanced Studies Program at St. Paul's School in Concord, NH- an uncommon distinction. His time there nurtured a deep and lasting interest in music and composition, which became the cornerstone of his life and career.

Ross earned his Bachelor of Arts in Music from Hampshire College, part of the Five College Consortium in Amherst, MA. He then pursued graduate studies in music composition at the University of Washington, studying under renowned composer William Bergsma, formerly of The Juilliard School.

While in Seattle, Ross immersed himself in the city's vibrant musical community. He sang as a tenor in the Seattle Symphony Chorus under Gerard Schwarz, contributing to recordings ranging from classical repertoire to film soundtracks on the Delos (Naxos) label. He was also a member of the Seattle Opera Auxiliary Chorus, performing in operas by Puccini, Verdi, and Wagner—including the monumental Ring Cycle. During the 1990s, he served as treasurer for the Washington Composer's Forum, an organization dedicated to performing new works by contemporary composers.

In the early 2000s, Ross returned to New England to be closer to his aging family. Despite ongoing health challenges, he remained active in the regional arts scene, performing with the Keene Chorale and with TUNDI Productions in Brattleboro, VT.

Ross will be deeply missed by his brothers, Bruce Patterson of Windsor, VT, and Scott Patterson of Williamstown, VT, along with his extended family and the many friends he kept in close contact with over the years. His warmth, intelligence, and enduring love for music and family left a lasting impression on everyone who knew him.

A memorial gathering to celebrate Ross's life will be held at a future date. Knight Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements. Condolences may be expressed in an online guestbook found at www.knightfuneralhomes.com