Dan Kinross may have been the most powerful politician to ever come from Ross, longtime township Commissioner Chris Eyster says.
“His forte was campaigning, especially in elections not involving himself,” Eyster said. “He was an indefatigable campaigner for Democratic candidates. He was a tremendous leader in the party and well respected Downtown.”
Daniel P. Kinross, who was a Ross commissioner for 20 years before narrowly losing his last bid for reelection in 2011, died on Jan. 27. He was 82.
Commissioner Dan DeMarco noted his passing at the Feb. 2 meeting, saying Kinross had gotten a lot done and accomplished.
In addition to this public and political service, Kinross served in the U.S. Coast Guard and coached youth sports.
As a commissioner, Kinross represented the township’s Ward 3.
In 2011, Kinross won the Democratic primary over challenger John Sponcer. But Sponcer won enough write-in votes to get on the ballot as a Republican and, in what Eyster described as a “big upset,” Sponcer defeated Kinross by 11 votes, 378 to 367.
Kinross did not run for township commissioner again after that.
U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio recognized Kinross on the floor of the House of Representatives.
“Dan loved his family, his community and his country. He lived a life of service to them all,” Deluzio said. “He proudly served our great country in the United States Coast Guard, and throughout his life he focused on his community serving as a Ross Township commissioner and coach of youth sports teams. Service was in Dan’s bones — and, in Western Pennsylvania, a life like Dan’s devoted to family, community and country shows exactly who we are. Humble, proud, always ready to do our part, Dan embodied the very best of our Western Pennsylvania values — hard work, patriotism and sacrifice.”
Conor Lamb, a Democrat who served as a U.S. representative from 2018 to 2023, said Ross was one of the largest towns in his congressional district, and its Democratic Committee “was vitally important.
“It remained old school into the present time, and Dan was a big part of that. He rarely missed a meeting or the annual Kennedy Lawrence Dinner,” Lamb said. “He represents the kind of dedicated, blue-collar Democrat who has always made it possible for our party to help people. He will be sorely missed.”
Katie Garfinkel, chair of the Allegheny County Democratic Committee, did not know Kinross. But, from reading about his time as a commissioner and his service in the Coast Guard, said his passing is a loss.
“Dan Kinross served Ross Township with distinction as a commissioner and a dedicated Democrat,” she said. “His commitment to his country and his community set a high bar for all of us, and my thoughts are with his family.”
Kinross, who owned an insurance agency, was a commissioner when Eyster was first elected in 2003. Eyster described him as a mentor.
“I didn’t know anybody when I first ran for commissioner. He helped me considerably,” Eyster said. “He was like a father to me, actually. He treated me like a son. I became part of his family.”
From Kinross, Eyster said he learned how to campaign and establish connections and how to be a good commissioner.
“He was fiscally frugal. He was always trying to cut costs, which is a good thing,” he said. “He was always working the angles. He was a stickler for a balanced budget. He voted against a lot of spending proposals. He was a real watchdog as far as spending was concerned.”
As a man, Eyster described Kinross as loyal and deeply committed to his family and friends. His survivors include his children, Kevin and Karrie Schmitt; their mother, Janet; six grandchildren; and his companion, Eloise Peet, and her children.
As a politician, Kinross was something of a throwback to an old style, Eyster said.
“The thing about him was you could fight like cats and dogs with him during the meeting, but after the meeting go to Monticello’s or some other place and have a beer. It was as if you never had those battles,” he said. “He was able to fight and then let it go and be your friend. He never took it personally, which is good.”
Devlin Funeral Home handled the arrangements. Contributions in his memory are requested to the Alzheimer’s Association at alzfdn.org.