(August 7, 1925 – April 21, 2016)
ROSS GULLOTTI OBITUARY from the newspaper
Passed away peacefully in his sleep surrounded by his loving family. Ross is survived by his wife of 57 years, Janet, his sons Sammy, Angelo, Michael and Nick, daughter-in-law Jean and 4 grandsons. Born in Cleveland OH, on 8/7/1925 Ross moved to East Los Angeles with his family as a child. They drove across the country in a used Franklin with wood spoked wheels. After serving in the US Army Air Corps during WWII, Ross USC graduating Cum Laude. Ross, a Whittier resident until his passing, opened a busy optometry practice and was one of the original tenants in the newly built Whittwood Mall. He built and operated, with the help of his sons, Skate City, an internationally known, world class skateboard park, and he was the proud owner of an impressive 7-UP can collection. Ross was a diligent husband and devoted father, instilling in his sons good character, integrity, and respect for themselves and others.
The Funeral Mass will be celebrated Thursday, 11:00am, April 28th, at St. Bruno’s Catholic Church, 15740 Citrustree Rd, Whittier, CA 90603
Lance Mountain, John Lucero, Hagop Najarian , Rick Ampudia and everyone else that showed up today to represent Whittier SkateCity Family to pay final respect to the person that spent money and sweat to help make the future of skateboarding a dream and life of Legends, Pioneers of what the sport is today because the love he had for his kids – Angelo, Mike, Sam, & everyone that he employed, Dan-O, Neil Blender, Dave Sabedra, Jerry Matta, etc., who ever skated there, Gerry Hurtado, Darrel Miller, George Orton, Eddie Elguera, Ray “Bones” Rodriques, there is so many legends that have past through Whittier Skate City Skatepark including Tony Hawk and all the Bones Brigades that Ross Gullotti touch the lives of so many Kids besides his kids lives that his life will always be remembered with a smile!
Dave Sabedra