He was born Glynn W. Aus to a Norwegian immigrant father and a mother of Swedish descent, in Omaha, Nebraska.
After early involvement in theatre and opera, Ross was drafted into the U.S. Army and served for the duration of World War II.
After recovering from a wound received in North Africa, he was sent back to Europe by the Army, charged with operating a rest camp for soldiers on the Italian island of Ischia.
In Seattle, Ross was also noted for his ability to pare administrative expenses and keep the company on a sound financial footing.
He oversaw production of two Ring Cycles as summer festivals in Flagstaff, Arizona in 1996 and 1998, bold undertakings for a middle-sized opera company.