Meet the Rosses: this year’s CommonSpirit Gala chairs

Barclay and Frank Ross have been involved with CommonSpirit for nearly 20 years — but what began as a professional relationship became an instant and lasting connection. When we invited them to chair this year’s CommonSpirit Gala, benefitting oncology, they took on the event with their infectious enthusiasm and warmth.

Below, hear from them about their lasting love for CommonSpirit, what’s in store at this year’s Gala and why cancer care is close to their hearts.

How did you become involved with CommonSpirit?

Frank Ross: It began with a professional relationship. My firm, Polsinelli, partnered with CommonSpirit about 18 years ago. At the time, CommonSpirit was searching for a law firm that shared their culture and values — one that appreciated their mission. And while it started as a professional relationship, this quickly felt more like a partnership and friendship, based on every connection we made across the team. They made it very clear to us: “You’re not just a vendor, you’re someone we want to have a relationship with that's based on mutual respect, trust and friendship.”

For our part, we have a great appreciation for Catholic healthcare and its mission. Many of the lawyers on our team, myself included, are Catholic and were products of Catholic schools. But you don't need to be Catholic to have a great appreciation for what Catholic health care does. It's not just taking care of people, but it's the ministry of compassionate care that comes with that.

How did that professional relationship evolve into the personal connection that you have to CommonSpirit as a couple?

Barclay Ross: We've been married almost 48 years, so we're connected at the hip with just about anything that we do!

Frank: Over the course of 18 years, Polsinelli worked with so many at CommonSpirit that it just blossomed. We started attending the Gala, and Barclay was with me.

Barclay: I've so enjoyed getting to know Mitch Melfi and his wife Deb. I consider them two of our best friends.

Frank: And that's really wonderful, to work with your best friend.

Barclay: Of all his clients, I think CommonSpirit is my favorite, really. Everyone is here for a reason. They really believe in what they're doing, and they really believe in the mission, and that is infectious. 

What’s your personal connection to the cause? You’ve spoken to your connection to CommonSpirit, but is there a personal connection to oncology, with that being the cause for the Gala this year?

Barclay: Several members of our family have had cancer, as well as many of our friends. Frank’s father died of cancer, as did one of Frank’s nieces. And I'm a cancer survivor. I'm surviving breast cancer — though I hesitate to share that because I sometimes worry that I'll always be identified by that.

Frank: It doesn't define you! But that’s why oncology is so important to us.

There are millions of cancer survivors. It just happens she's one of them, and it happens that we're in this position.

Barclay: When Frank told me that we'd been asked to chair the event, I was like, “Why?” Then when I heard it was for cancer, I was so elated, because it’s very important to us.

We had sworn off ever chairing anything ever again — but I guess we came out of retirement from fundraising because this could have such a meaningful effect for an organization that we’re both so especially fond of and tied to.

What would you say makes an event successful? What would be your message to potential partners, through this event?

Frank: Of course, you look at the net proceeds that will support the cause. Then you want to make it a memorable night. What probably makes the experience stick out the most is when someone has had their heart touched. They say to themselves, “I’m really glad that I was there.”

Is there anything from past Galas that were particularly memorable for you?

Frank: I’ve attended all but one of them, all the way back to that very first one.

Barclay: They've always been beautiful, and I've enjoyed meeting the people who attend. This year, we are so pleased with the location — the Denver Art Museum. I think it’s going to be gorgeous.

Frank: I hope this year will be memorable for lots of different reasons, but also, as Barclay said, I think everybody will enjoy the setting in Denver. But it’s not entirely about Denver, it’s about a cause that reaches nationwide: fighting cancer nationwide.

You mentioned being attached to the hips and doing these events together in the past. What are the roles you play during these events?

Frank: I focused almost entirely on the fundraising component — and wine was my other assignment. Barclay handled the music, the ambiance, the lighting, the flowers, the table setting, on and on…

Barclay: All the pretty stuff!

Frank: One thing we’re going to do: we are not going to be on the stage. This is not about us. It's not to celebrate us. That's just not who we are. We're happy to be in these roles and excited to make it a really special night — but once the night arrives, once we walk in the door that night, our role is over. We intend to enjoy every part of the night.

Barclay: And raise our paddles.

Frank: Yeah, raise our paddles! Our main objective is to share this inspiring vision and encourage people to join us in support.

What would you say to others about why they should also support this cause? If someone attending the event is not familiar with CommonSpirit, what do you hope will move them to support us — or, specifically, oncology?

Frank: There's a real need for mission-driven health care in the United States, and cancer is a leading cause of death in this country. It strikes all ages, genders. Everyone in the room has an important reason to be there and an equally important reason to raise their own paddles.

When Barclay was diagnosed, we started to question: What did we do? Is it going to come back? Did it spread? There's a lot of anxiety and pain that comes from that. Millions of people every year suffer from cancer, but it's not just them. It's also their loved ones and their families. So to have ministry-driven health care that's aligned with the Church, for this specific cause… you know, people should be lining up to attend!

Last question: We would love to know more about your family or any other color you’d be willing to share.

Frank: We are incredibly blessed. We have an amazing family. Our son, Trip, is married to a lovely woman, Shelby. They have two children: Campbell and Grayson. And then we have a daughter, Caroline, who is married to a wonderful guy named Ryan. Their daughters are Madison, Lily and Chelsea. 

We try to have pasta Sunday at our house when we're in town every Sunday. Whoever shows up shows up, but I make plenty. And we travel extensively with them. We just make it a point, once each year, there's a trip for all of us.

Is it really whoever shows up? Can we come for the next pasta dinner?

Frank: Absolutely! It's generally at 5 o'clock on Sunday. I'll make a different pasta each week and open a few bottles of wine. We have a large, extended Italian-American family, and we all talk at the same time. You know, it's faith, family and food in that order. Come on over!

 

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