From the Jacob Holle Funeral Home:
Holli Ross (Wasser), 63, of Maplewood passed away at St. Barnabas Hospital on May 9, 2020. Holli was born in Manhattan, NY, raised in Roslyn Heights on Long Island, and has lived in Maplewood for the past 30 years.
She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Bassoon Performance from the Mannes College of Music in New York and her Master’s Degree in Speech Language Pathology from Kean University in Union, NJ. Holli was a professional jazz musician, vocalist and lyricist, music educator at Montclair State University and Hofstra University, vocal coach and specialist treating voice disorders.
She performed at festivals and venues across Japan, Europe and the United States, including the Monterey Jazz Festival and the Newport Jazz Festival. She recorded nine albums and CDs, and performed with numerous jazz vocal ensembles, including String of Pearls, Mad Romance, Group 5 and the Royal Bopsters Project.
Holli is survived by her husband Daniel Gibbons and daughter Hannah Gibbons, mother Solna Kane Wasser and siblings Ronald Wasser, Debra Wasser Kaplan, and Edward Wasser. A celebration of Holli’s life will be held at a later date.
The family requests memorial donations be made to the Holli Ross Fund for Jazz Studies. Gifts should be directed to the Montclair State University Foundation, 1 Normal Avenue, Montclair, NJ 07043, or online, designated to the Holli Ross Fund for Jazz Studies at https://montclairconnect.org/make-a-gift.
For more information or to leave condolences please visit jacobhollefuneralhome.com.
