Michael Ross's bequest is earmarked to assist organizations that provide food, shelter and medical care to the needy

           Michael "Mickey" Ross  was born Isadore Rovinsky in New York City in 1919 and served as a bomber pilot during World War II.  In the 1950s, he directed shows at a resort in the Adirondack Mountains and debuted as a TV director on "The Garry Moore Show." He was an American Emmy Award-winning screenwriter and television producer. Ross, together with writing partners Don Nicholl and Bernard West, were writers/producers for All in the Family, for which Ross won an Emmy in 1973, The Jeffersons and Three's Company. Ross and West continued as executive producers of Three's Company after the death of partner Nicholl in 1980, also producing the spin-off shows The Ropers and Three's a Crowd. Ross died May 26, 2009 due to complications following stroke and heart attack.