Donald Kemp Ross (June 29, 1943May 14, 2022) was an American public interest lawyer. Ross proposed the model of

Public Interest Research Group Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGs) are a federation of U.S. and Canadian non-profit organizations that employ grassroots organizing and direct advocacy on issues such as consumer protection, public health and transportation. The PIRGs are cl ...

s (PIRGS) with

Ralph Nader Ralph Nader (; born February 27, 1934) is an American political activist, author, lecturer, and attorney noted for his involvement in consumer protection, environmentalism, and government reform causes. The son of Lebanese immigrants to the Un ...

. Ross became the first director of the NYPIRG (The New York Public Interest Research Group, Inc.). He helped to found the Albany law firm of Malkin & Ross, and its associated advocacy organization M+R Strategic Services. He has served on the board of directors of environmental organizations.

Early life and education

Ross was the son of Helen (Kemp), a homemaker, and Hugh Ross, an administrator for the Conservation Foundation. Ross graduated with a BA in English from

Fordham University Fordham University () is a Private university, private Jesuit universities, Jesuit research university in New York City. Established in 1841 and named after the Fordham, Bronx, Fordham neighborhood of the The Bronx, Bronx in which its origina ...

, where he was student body president, in 1965. He served in the

Peace Corps The Peace Corps is an independent agency and program of the United States government that trains and deploys volunteers to provide international development assistance. It was established in March 1961 by an executive order of President John F. ...

Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...

from 1965 to 1967. He graduated

New York University Law School New York University School of Law (NYU Law) is the law school of New York University, a private research university in New York City. Established in 1835, it is the oldest law school in New York City and the oldest surviving law school in New ...

in 1970.

Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGS)

While serving with

, Donald K. Ross wrote the book ''Action for a change'', which proposed the organizational model for

s (PIRGS). He was the first director of the New York Public Interest Research Group, Inc. (NYPIRG). While at NYPIRG, Ross helped it grow to become the largest state-based research and advocacy organization in the nation. Ross was NYPIRG's principal strategist, lobbyist and fundraiser.

Law career

In 1984, he and Arthur Malkin founded the law firm Malkin & Ross, which is based in Albany, New York. Malkin and Ross later formed M+R Strategic Services, which is based in

Washington, D.C ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

. He worked as an attorney for

Citizen Action Group

The Citizen Action Group (CAG) was the organizing arm of

Public Citizen Public Citizen is a non-profit, progressive consumer rights advocacy group and think tank based in Washington, D.C., United States, with a branch in Austin, Texas. Lobbying efforts Public Citizen advocates before all three branches of the Unit ...

. Ross worked as CAG's head, and helped create the Parents Action Committee on Toys (PACT), the Connecticut Citizen Action Group (CCAG) as well as Public Interest Research Groups in 15 different states.

Board member of environmental organizations

He has served as an adviser and officer of several non-profit organizations that are dedicated to public-interest causes, especially the environment. He served as the chief administrative officer of the Rockefeller Family fund from 1985 to 1999. In 2011, he was on the Boards of Directors for the

League of Conservation Voters The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) is an American environmental advocacy group. LCV says that it "advocates for sound environmental laws and policies, holds elected officials accountable for their votes and actions, and elects pro-environmen ...

; that same year, he served as the chairperson of Greenpeace US.

Other activities

Ross worked as a consultant for the Long Island Veatch Program, the Center for Research on Institutions and Social Policy, and the

New York Community Trust The New York Community Trust is the community foundation for New York City, with divisions in Westchester and Long Island. It is one of the oldest and largest community foundations in the United States and one of the largest funders of New York Ci ...

. He was one of the chief coordinators for the 1979 March on Washington and the No Nukes Rally in Battery Park City.

Personal life

Ross was married to writer Helen Klein Ross until his death from lymphoma in

Salisbury, Connecticut Salisbury () is a town situated in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The town is the northwesternmost in the state of Connecticut; the Massachusetts-New York-Connecticut tri-state marker is located at the northwest corner of the town ...

, on May 14, 2022. He was 78.

Books

He is the author and co-author of many books, including ''A Public Citizen's Action Manual, Troubled Waters: Toxic Chemicals in the Hudson River, and ''Action for Change: A Manual of Public Interest Organizing.''

Notes

External links

Ross, Donald K.
(

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) {{DEFAULTSORT:Ross, Donald Kemp 1943 births 2022 deaths Public Interest Research Groups New York Public Interest Research Group New York (state) lawyers American democracy activists American environmentalists American non-fiction environmental writers American political writers American male non-fiction writers Consumer rights activists Peace Corps volunteers