In memoriam – George Ross

Along time member of the Jean Monnet Centre Montreal (JMCM), George Ross passed away on Wednesday, April 2, 2025.

He held a PhD from Harvard University and was Professor of Sociology at Brandeis University from 1970 to 2009. Since then, he has been a visiting professor in the Department of Political Science at the Université de Montréal and a very active member of the JMCM.

George was an intellectual in the finest sense of the word.

A field researcher, his numerous sociological works on elites, particularly on the European Commission, have shaped the field of European studies. Most notably, these include Jacques Delors and European Integration (Oxford University Press) and The European Union and its Crises: Through the Eyes ofthe Brussels Elite (Palgrave Macmillan).

A theorist of European integration, in 2008 he was awarded a Jean Monnet Chair ad personam, an honorary title awarded by the European Commission to individuals who, throughout their careers, have distinguished themselves through the exceptional quality of their work and teaching on European integration. He also received the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from the European Union Studies Association.

A dedicated figure in his field, he served as Director of the Minda de Gunzberg Center for European Studies at Harvard University, as President of the Council for European Studies, and as Co-Director of the JMCM from 2020-2021.

Beyond his institutional roles, George was passionate about the major challenges that the European Union faced and continues to face politically, democratically, and on the international stage. He was always available to reflect on and analyze the latest political developments on both sides of the Atlantic. Never short of fascinating anecdotes and stories, he also possessed a rare curiosity, always eager to learn new things about all aspects of Europe.

Above all, we remember him as a magnificent person, endowed with incredible energy. George was always committed and caring, showing great generosity, particularly towards junior colleagues. He was exceptionally modest, despite his stature as a renowned international scholar with an impressive career.

His legacy, both intellectual and human, will have a long-lasting impact on our community of Europeanists in Montreal.