User:Ferolsjules/sandbox

Hilary Geary Ross is an American author and philanthropist.

Background
She is the daughter of J. Jeffrey Roche, who was the editor of Better Times and Patricia Murray Ney, who wrote The Beachcomber column for the Southampton Press from 1972 through 2000. She is the great-granddaughter of Thomas E. Murray, the prolific inventor, who has more than 463 patents in his name. He is credited with developing electrical power plants for NYC as well as electrical devices including the dimmer switch and the screw in fuse.

Hilary grew up in New York City and at the Murray-McDonnell Compound in Southampton and is the granddaughter of John F. Murray, former Commissioner of the Port of New York Authority. Her grandfather Arthur Somers Roche was a novelist and screenplay writer who lived in Palm Beach and wrote “The Day of Faith”, “Loot,” “The Wise Wife,” “Shadow of Doubt,” “The Case Against Mrs. Ames” and more. Her great-grandfather James Jeffrey Roche was an Irish American poet and writer who wrote: Songs and Satires, Life of John Boley, The Vase and Other Bric-a-Brac. He later served as The US Consul to Switzerland.

Career
Ross has written two coffee-table books that feature photographs by Harry Benson. New York, New York was published in 2011 and Palm Beach People was published in 2014. The books feature intimate portraits of high-profile residences, and people in politics, Hollywood, fashion, art, sports, finance, and philanthropy. Ross knew the majority of the books subjects personally. Some of Ross’ favorite photographs include one of Hugh Jackman, the architect Peter Marino, Dr. Oz., Evelyn and Leonard Lauder, President Donald Trump and the First Lady Melania Trump. Proceeds from the sales of the books are donated to The Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach.

Ross is the Society Editor for Quest magazine, and wrote a Palm Beach column for New York Social Diary which featured her own photographs. Her feature stories have included coverage of art exhibits including Recapturing the Real West+ The Collections of William I. Koch. She also wrote a monthly column for Quest called, "Appearance column” for 17 years.

Philanthropy
Hilary is an active philanthropist in New York, Palm Beach and Washington D.C. She currently sits on the Honorary Board of the Boys Club of New York where she has served since 1983. She Served as President of The Womens Board from 1988-1990. Hilary was instrumental in uniting the organizations men’s and women’s board of The Boys Club .She was also on the board of the Women’s Committee of Central Park Conservancy where she served as President in from 1994 to 1995. She continues to sit on the Honorary Board and attend their annual Frederick Law Olmsted Awards Luncheon.

Hilary has also been on the board of the Palm Beach Preservation Foundation since 2005 and was the Chairman of the Foundation's annual dance twice.

Hilary sits on the Trustees' Council of the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. and the Board of the Ford Theater. She was formerly on the board of the Magritte Museum in Belgium.

Hilary has been the President of the Blenheim Palace Foundation, USA since 2007. The Foundation helps with the restoration and preservation of Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, England, which is the birthplace of Winston Churchill.

Awards
Hilary and Wilbur Ross’ passions include art, architecture and interior design. (16) The couple won The Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach's Ballinger Award in 2004 for the renovation of their 1939 Georgian Revival manor Windsong, which noted architect John L. Volk originally designed. The Ross’ won The Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach's Elizabeth L. and John H. Schuler Award in 2010 for the guesthouse they built on the property next door with the architect Thomas Kirchhoff and interior designer Mario Buatta. This award recognizes new architecture designed with the traditional styles of Palm Beach.

Personal life
Hilary married industrialist and financier Wilbur L. Ross, Jr. in 2004, who currently serves as the United States Secretary of Commerce under President Donald Trump.