Ross has served as Funeral Director for Seattle Jewish Chapel for over 25 years, supporting the Jewish community in times of loss and facilitating healing. He is also in private practice as a licensed marriage and family therapist with a focus on helping couples develop healthier communication. He is fortunate to have a loving family, including his wife Ruth, two children and four grandchildren, all residing in the Seattle area.

Hillary is a retired educator and Hebrew textbook writer with a BA and teaching credential from Princeton University. A Los Angeles native, she currently splits her time between LA and Seattle, where her five grandchildren (and their parents) live. She spends her time volunteering at the SHA library and teaching Hebrew online to Hispanic Jews. She enjoys reading, traveling, cooking, doing jigsaw puzzles, and watching too many terrible TV shows.

Born and raised in Seattle, Zelle attended several local Jewish schools before studying at Hebrew University in Jerusalem and then Brandeis University. Over the years, Zelle has worked in film, education, real estate, and technology management consulting. One of her most impactful volunteer endeavors was the time she spent at Crisis Connections, formerly the King County Crisis Line. Zelle has a passion for personal growth and building bridges between communities. As such, she recently completed programs through the Anti-Defamation League, Leadership Tomorrow and Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle. Zelle is currently the Director of Institutional Advancement at Northwest Yeshiva High School, her alma mater. She is excited to join the Mercaz Board to give back and support our growing community. Fun Fact: Growing up, Zelle had lizards as pets, which she caught herself.