Michael Robert D’Urzo Ross passed away at home, surrounded by his family on Oct. 31, 2025, after a short battle with brain cancer. He was 56.
Born on May 16, 1969, to Robert and Jean (Reed) Ross at Fox Hospital, Oneonta, Michael loved Oneonta and the stories told to him by his father about the D&H Roundhouse. His grandfather, John Ross, worked as a hostler for 50 years for the D&H and gave Michael a passion for the railroad.
Michael was a 1987 graduate of Franklin Central School. He was proud to obtain his CDL license at age 18 through BOCES prior to graduating. Upon graduation, Michael worked for S.J. Bailey’s as a furniture packer and then with Delaware County as a heavy equipment operator.
Michael met his future wife Heather (Olmesdahl) in 1988 after an Oneonta Yankee baseball game and a slice from Ruffino’s Pizzeria. The couple were married on Sept. 8, 1990. They moved into the home he built for them a week before the wedding, at age 21.
Michael was very hard working, determined and always had an entrepreneur spirit. He owned and operated Ross Contracting (Paving) from 1995 to 2012. He began Candyland Concessions as a concessionaire playing the New York carnival circuit. He was featured on the Cooking Network (Carnival Eats) preparing the Holy Cannoli.
In 2015 Michael purchased the brand rights and original equipment to Oneonta’s Oldest Name in Ice Cream, since 1949, Polar Bear Homemade Ice Cream. It took Michael 36 months to build the new home of Polar Bear, in his farm’s beef cow hayfield. Michael’s son Matthew assisted his father building the new facility from the ground up making this the biggest Polar Bear has ever been. Michael always took pride in his family’s operation. “It’s a family thing” with his wife, son and daughter, their spouses and grandchildren.
In 2021 Michael added D’Urzo’s Old World Bakery to the Polar Bear home, inspired by his Calabrian roots. He prepared Calabrian style rolls, pizza and his specialty “pickle pizza” enjoyed by many.
Michael is survived by his wife Heather of 35 years, daughter Jessica (Kyle) Buel, son Matthew (Bonnie) Ross and his five grandchildren: Hayden, Noah, Isaiah, John and Isabella; nephew Joseph (Clara) and their children Joseph, Anthony and Lucus; sister Janette Korenyik and nephew Daniel.
Our family would like to thank all of our close friends and family members near and far and our Polar Bear customers for their support. We also want to thank all of the local/non-local churches for praying for our beloved Michael. Our family is dedicated to carry on Michael’s legacy with continuation of Polar Bear Homemade Ice Cream & More for many years to come!
A Celebration of Life will be held Nov. 16 from 12 noon to 2 p.m. at the Foothills in Oneonta.
