Medical School Pioneer
D
r. Robert Ross, 92, of New York
City and Palm Beach, Fla., died
March 19, 2011, after a long and
courageous battle with cancer.
Dr. Ross is best known as a pioneer in
medical education as he founded and led
Ross University, one of the largest and
most successful Caribbean medical and
veterinary schools from 1979 to 2000.
His reputation for developing academic
institutions and dedication to excellence
is known worldwide. Thousands of his
graduates are now licensed and practic-
ing throughout the United States.
As an academic leader in the field of
medical education, he dedicated his life
to the success of his students. No mat-
ter what the challenge, he never backed
down from a fight. In the early years, he
had to fight many a battle to protect the
rights of his students, to uphold the rep-
utation of the university and to ensure
graduates would qualify for licensure
and residencies.
The battles were long and hard fought,
but ultimately he succeeded and paved
the way for many other schools to follow
in his footsteps. His leadership and ded-
MARTIN BENSON, 75,
of Bloomfield Hills, died
March 19, 2011.
He was a pharmacist
with four stores located
in the downriver area.
He was also a past board
member of Temple
Benson
Israel, a member of
AOPA (Aircraft Owners
Pilots Association), member of Michigan
Pharmacists Association and a member of
Kappa Nu Fraternity.
Mr. Benson is survived by his wife,
Sandy Benson; daughters and son-in-
law, Dr. Diane Benson-Dinser and Greg
Dinser of Georgia, Dana Benson of
Bloomfield Hills; sons and daughters-
in-law, Alexander and Marci Benson
of Birmingham, Mitchell and Annette
Benson of West Bloomfield; grandchil-
dren, Jillian and Michelle Dinser, Sara and
Ellie Benson and Jonah and Lia Benson;
brother, Bob Benson of Florida; sisters-in-
law and brothers-in-law, Cynthia and Rick
Good, Jacqueline and Bill Litigot; mother-
in-law, Julia Theis.
He was the devoted son of the late
Alex Belinsky and the late Dena Belinsky
Gateman; the beloved brother of the late
Nita Silberschein; the dear brother-in-law
ication to quality as well as his instance
on excellence were an inspiration to
all who knew him and were the corner
stones of his life. His dream had always
been to provide a quality medical and
nursing education to qualified students
that deserve a chance.
After selling his schools in 2000, Dr.
Ross followed his passion to address
the shortage of health care profession-
als in the United States and Canada by
founding the International University
of Nursing. IUON is a modern, state of
the art institution affiliated with several
premier nursing schools in the United
States and Canada. The school's focus is
on delivering highly trained and skilled
nurses to the U.S. and Canadian health-
care systems.
With the success of IUON, Dr. Ross
returned to addressing the growing need
for qualified physicians in the U.S. and
Canada. Dr. Ross believed that these
students deserve an opportunity to
pursue a quality medical education. As
a result, he dedicated his experience and
resources to developing a premier medi-
cal school — the University of Medicine
of the late Joseph Silberschein; the loving
son-in-law of the late Ervin Theis.
Interment at Beth El Memorial Park.
Contributions may be made to Birthright
Israel Foundation, 33 East 33rd Street, 7th
Floor, New York, NY 10016, www.founda-
tion@birthrightisrael.org ; Temple Israel,
(any fund), 5725 Walnut Lake Road, West
Bloomfield, MI 48323, www.temple-israel.
org ; Jewish National Fund, 60 Revere
Drive, Suite 960, Northbrook, IL 60062,
‘vww.jnf. org/midwestern; or to a char-
ity of one's choice. Arrangements by Ira
Kaufman Chapel.
DR. IRVING F. BURTON, 93, of
Huntington Woods, died March 10, 2011.
He was a pediatrician 42 years until
retiring in 1988. He was married 52 years
to Doris Hyman Burton. He was president,
Archives of American Art, Smithsonian
Institution; Life Trustee, Detroit Institute
of Arts, among many other arts organiza-
tions.
Dr. Burton is survived by his children,
Stephen (Loren) Burton, Carol (Joseph
Pickrell) Burton, Bonnie (Richard)
Firestone; his grandchildren, Jeffrey
(Sarah) Firestone, Elana (Kelly) Shea,
Lindsay Firestone, Andrew Burton, Jason
Burton, Aaron Burton; his brother, Russell
and Health Sciences. UMHS was found-
ed in 2007 and seated its inaugural class
in May 2008. It utilizes the most innova-
tive teaching technologies available in
medical education to provide personal-
ized, specialized training to its students.
He invested over 50 million dollars
developing one of the most state-of-the-
art medical schools in the Caribbean.
Dr. Ross was a lifelong entrepreneur
from the time he was a youngster born
and raised in Detroit. He was a self-
made man that started his career early
on building one of the largest newspaper
routes in Detroit at the age of 15. He
went on to develop many successful
domestic and international businesses
in the field of electronics, pharmaceuti-
cals and petrochemicals. Most recently
he developed a homeopathic medication
to deter snoring, which is a product
marketed in the United States under the
name YSNORE.
Robert Ross' distinguished business
career has been widely reported in pub-
lications like: Time, New York Times, Wall
Street Journal, Miami Herald, Palm Beach
Post, Palm Beach Daily News, Newsday,
Forbes and Current Biography.
He had been the recipient of many
awards and honors, including an honor-
ary doctorate in humane letters from
the Southern School of Optometry in
Memphis, Tenn. Dr. Ross had been phil-
anthropic during his career, especially in
the area of academic scholarships, and
in later years with medical centers like
M.D. Anderson and Memorial Sloan-
Kettering.
In addition to his many contribu-
tions to humanity, Dr. Ross also proudly
served his country in World War II,
assigned to the 69th Infantry Division.
He is survived by his devoted wife of
40 years, Anne; children, Nancy Ross,
Carol Walker, Bryan Ross, Warren Ross;
Anne's children, Marlene Hummel,
Janis Adler; 13 grandchildren; six great-
grandchildren.
Contributions may be sent to the
Robert Ross Bladder Cancer Fund,
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer
Center, 1275 York Ave, New York, NY
10065. Services and interment were held
in New York. Local arrangements by
Dorfman Chapel. 1-1
(Britt) Burton; his sisters-in-law, Elaine
Hyman, Evelyn Burton.
A memorial service will be held in the
summer. Contributions may be made to
Partners in Personal Assistance, 1110 N.
Main Street, Suite 117, Ann Arbor, MI
48104, www.annarborppa.org .
ELIZABETH "BETTY" COLLENS, 91, of
Southfield, died March 16, 2011.
She was a member of Temple Israel, its
sisterhood and book club, B'nai B'rith and
its bowling league. She was also a volun-
teer and tribute chairman for the Juvenile
Diabetes Foundation.
Mrs. Collens is survived by her son,
Robert Collens of Southfield; daughter,
Joyce Bagley of Farmington Hills; grand-
children, Lisa Bagley and Ben Quarmby,
Julie Bagley.
She was the beloved wife for 40 years
of the late Nathan Collens; loving sister
of the late Thomas Nover, the late Meyer
Nover, the late Victor Nover, the late Sam
Nover, the late Jack Nover, the late Pearl
Flamholtz, the late Nettie Seide; dear
sister-in-law of the late Betty Nover, the
late Sylvia Nover, the late Evelyn Nover, the
late Evelyn Nover, the late Lou Flamholtz,
the late Sol Seide.
Contributions may be made to Juvenile
Diabetes Foundation, 24359 Northwestern
Hwy., Southfield, MI 48075. Services and
interment at Hebrew Memorial Park.
Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial
Chapel.
GEORGE ROGER
COHAN, 91, of West
Bloomfield, died March
16, 2011.
He is survived by his
sons and daughters-
in-law, Jamie and Carol
Cohan of Farmington
Cohan
Hills, Todd and Patricia
Cohan of Haslett, Mich.;
brother Leon Cohan of Ann Arbor; grand-
children, Lauren Elise Cohan, Lindsey
Michelle Cohan; many loving nieces,
nephews and other family members and
friends.
Mr. Cohan was the beloved husband
of the late Pearl Cohan; brother-in-law of
the late Heidi Cohan, the late Eli (the late
Edith) Richter.
Interment at the Adat Shalom Cemetery.
Contributions may be made to a charity
of one's choice. Arrangements by Dorfman
Chapel.
Obituaries
Obituaries on page 62
March 24 2011
61