In a Tuesday talk, Lindner details 1948 murder of a Vermonter in Europe

October 27, 2025 | By Waterbury Roundabout 

The Waterbury Rotary Club hosts a presentation on Tuesday by local historian Brian Lindner about a little-remembered piece of post-World War II history with a timely anniversary and a Vermont connection. 

Irving S. Ross, courtesy photo

He will detail the story behind the tragic 1948 murder of Hardwick native Irving S. Ross in Vienna, Austria, by Russian soldiers. 

Lindner shares this summary: “In post-war Europe, Irving S. Ross from Hardwick worked for the U.S. State Department as administrator in the Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe. His task in the Economic Cooperation Administration was to monitor and prevent U.S. aid money and such things as certain metals from finding their way into Communist hands. Late on the night of October 31, 1948, accompanied by a Hungarian princess, he wandered into the Russian Zone of Vienna, where he was assassinated by Russian soldiers. The Soviets did their best to quash any investigation, and the resulting U.S. Army report remained classified for decades.  His assassination was heavily covered by the national news media and even touched the White House.  He left a young wife with three daughters.”

The presentation is free, starting at 6 p.m. at the United Methodist Church, 56 South Main Street.