AUBURN — L. Ross Cummins, 91, of Auburn, passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 21, at Clover Nursing Home.

He was born in Orange, N.J., on April 1, 1919, the son of the late Lester and Catherine Cummins. He spent his early life in New Jersey and attended Yale University, recieving a B.S. in psychology. During college, he enjoyed participating in the glee club and played trombone in the football band. From 1941-42 he started work on a master’s at the University of Connecticut and was employed part-time as an intern psychologist at the state mental hospital.

In 1942, he entered the Army as an enlisted psychologist, rising to the rank of lieutenant and chief clinical psychologist at Battey General Hospital in Rome, Ga. He was released from the Army in 1945 to establish the Veterans Administration Guidance Center, at Armstrong Junior College, in Savannah, Ga.

In 1949, he returned to Yale University to complete his master’s and doctorate in psychology. He was a member of the faculty of Bates College from 1952 to 1989, and held the positions of professor, chairman of the department of education and psychology, and director of guidance and placement. He was the mace wearer at commencement for many years. He was president of the Maine Psychological Association in 1958 and remained a member of the American Psychological Association for many years.

He was married for 41 years to Margaret White Cummins, who enjoyed teaching second grade at Pettingill School in Lewiston. He was an avid world traveler, who toured England, China, Norway, Greece, Italy, Russia, Australia, New Zealand and many other places. He especially enjoyed frequent trips to London, where he had spent one of his sabbaticals. After his retirement from Bates, he continued to enjoy participating in Bates events, traveling to Tennessee to visit family, and spending vacations at the Maine coast. He lived at Schooner Estates in Auburn for many years.

He is survived by one daughter, Jane Cummins Fowler and her husband, Mike, of Knoxville, Tenn.; two step-grandchildren, Amy McDonald and her husband, Steve, of El Segundo, Calif., and John Fowler and his wife, Suzanne, of Knoxville, Tenn.; and four step-great grandchildren, Hannah and Shelby McDonald and Ashton and Reese Fowler.

He was predeceased by his wife, Margaret, on Nov. 25, 1983.

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