Jack Ross, 86, director of the Water Control Commission for the town, died Dec. 23. Friends and family recalled the life of a "true gentleman" who'd often said he planned to work right up until the end.

Colleagues at the water department recalled that Ross rarely took a day off from work and, that even though his schedule officially began at 8:30 a.m., he was in the shop at 7 a.m. to go over the day's priorities.

"He was very punctual," said Dorothy Chase, administrative assitant who had worked at town hall with Ross for more than 20 years.

"He was the kind of person who needed a purpose and that was his purpose," said Roberta Ross, daughter. "He'd told his boss, last Tuesday, that he wasn't coming back to work until  until after the holiday - that was as close as he ever got to saying he'd retired."

Town Manager Denise McNair said, "He was such a gentleman. He was a lovely person, inside and out."

Services are scheduled for 11 a.m., Saturday, at Berlin Congregational Church, 878 Worthington Ridge.

(See the Jan. 8 edition of The Citizen for expanded coverage.)