Steven J. Ross

Steven J. Ross is most famous for the massive 1990 merger of Warner Communications and Time Inc., which created the world’s largest media and entertainment conglomerate, Time Warner.

Steve Ross was born Steven Jay Rechnitz in Brooklyn, New York in 1927 to Jewish immigrant parents. Steve J. Ross’s first venture into business involved the Kinney Parking Company, a funeral home which had expanded its business into parking lots, office cleaning firms and construction companies in New York City. In 1962, he successfully merged his Manhattan-based funeral business and New Jersey’s Kinney System. Ross became the company president, and the Kinney National Service moved to Rockefeller Plaza. After Kinney National Service divested itself of its non-entertainment assets, Steve Ross renamed the company Warner Communications, becoming the media company’s CEO, president, and chairman. The company now focused on entertainment and media properties.

Warner Communications became a heavy hitter in the entertainment industry, being the parent company of Warner Brothers Pictures, Warner Music Group, DC Comics, and Atari. In fact, Atari reached its highest level of profitability under Warner from 1976 to 1984.

Under the leadership of Steve Ross, Warner formed a joint venture with American Express, and became a pioneer in cable channels. Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment launched MTV, Nickelodeon, and The Movie Channel. Steve Ross was also the driving force behind the New York Cosmos, a professional soccer team in the fledgling North American Soccer League.

With his wife Courtney Sale Ross, Steven Ross founded the innovative Ross School in 1991. Aided by the research of many educational pioneers, Courtney Sale Ross and Steven J. Ross put into practice some of the most advanced methods in K-12 education, combining them progressive ideals of world leadership and technological integration. Courtney Sale Ross continues to be a leader in education through the Ross School. Courtney Sale Ross set up the Steven J. Ross Scholarship Fund to ensure that 50% of the student body can afford its tuition.

Sadly, the ever energetic Steve J. Ross died of cancer at the age of 65. His funeral was held at Carnegie Hall to near capacity, and hundreds of film stars, politicians, business colleagues, and close friends turned out to honor him. People who gave tribute to Steve Ross’s legacy included director Steven Spielberg, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, the soccer star Pele, Mayor David N. Dinkins and Governor Hugh L. Carey. Most of the speakers recalled Steve Ross’s generosity. Liz Smith, the gossip columnist, said a list of Steve J. Ross’s philanthropic efforts from 1991-1992 was so heavy that she could barely lift it. Julian Senior, a Time Warner executive of Time Warner in Europe, spoke of Mr. Ross’s help in finding special medical care for Mr. Senior’s son.

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