MCFARLAND - Ross Davis Dillman, age 35, of McFarland, passed away on Saturday, July 12, 2025, due to an accidental overdose after consuming cocaine laced with fentanyl. He was born on August 24, 1989, in Madison, Wisconsin, the son of Doug and Lisa (Laabs) Dillman.

Ross began to battle depression and anxiety late in high school, and it worsened in college. Thus began a long battle with this horrible disease combination.

Ross saw myriad counselors and psychiatrists. He would show improvement, then inexplicably quit or sabotage his treatment program. He would stop taking his meds. He would leave for appointments, then drive around and not show up. We, his parents, had to drive to appointments to make sure he kept them. Ross was seeing a therapist and she was doing a good job. We were just about at the point when we were going to try prescription medications again when Ross overdosed.

On the day of Ross’ death, police and rescue searched his room and concluded, based on the materials and paraphernalia he had on hand, that he was not an addict. If he was, he fooled us and everyone around him. Ross had never overdosed previously, did not have track marks, was never found unconscious, never arrested, never needed the ER or hospitalization, never seemed under the influence, never stole from his loved ones. He was never an obvious drug user. We wish that he had “hit rock bottom” so we could have done something. It was not to be.

Fentanyl test strips can be purchased on Amazon, $10 for 10 strips. Buy them if you have the slightest suspicion about any friend or loved one. Narcan (naloxone) nasal spray can be purchased from Amazon or Walgreen’s without a prescription, $44 for two doses. Narcan would not have helped us in our situation, fentanyl strips may have.

Ross had a happy childhood, attending Frank Allis Grade and Sennett Middle Schools. He loved games, crafts and family trips to Nashville as a child. He also loved soccer and played many years in the Yahara Soccer Club youth program. Despite being a man of few words, Ross was selected by his coach and teammates as captain of the Madison La Follette varsity soccer team and was MVP. Later, Ross played soccer at UW-Platteville and was a starter on the first soccer team in UW-Platteville history to make the NCAA tournament.

Ross was an animal whisperer. They loved him and he loved them back. Animals didn’t question him, poke or prod him, or try to change him. He had a large collection of stuffed animals as a child. He eventually went for the real thing. Six years ago, Ross adopted a cat named Goldie from Angel’s Wish Pet Adoption. They adored each other. Goldie is slow to embrace strangers and so was Ross - a perfect fit. Goldie loved to have Ross comb and untangle her long golden orange fur and she only allowed Ross to pick her up. Ross’ parents will cherish Goldie as a lifelong gift from Ross.

Ross was a genuinely nice person. He was a gentle giant. He was polite, he held the door open for people, he’d pick up an item that someone had dropped. Despite his depression, he never lashed out or said a hurtful thing to or about anyone. He handled his depression and anxiety courageously.

A fabulous bargain hunter, Ross was a great shopper - clothing and groceries in particular, and a great gift giver. His nephew, Henry, immediately embraced the CamelBak dinosaur water bottle given to him by Ross. Ross also enjoyed cooking and we always looked forward to trying his mac & cheese concoctions (they were usually too spicy for us).

Ross was a computer expert, builder, gamer, and crypto trader. He was also great at the board game, Jeopardy, and regularly won family jeopardy games. He also had a huge collection of music. Hip-hop was his favorite, but he also found musical gems outside hip-hop. We enjoyed listening to his mixes on road trips.

Ross worked at and was the engine behind ConnecTrial Corporation, a clinical research company. He canvassed pharmaceutical companies looking for clinical studies and matched the studies up with clinical research sites. In addition to his usual duties, Ross was essentially the ConnecTrial Chief Technology Officer.

Ross could work remotely, and in May/June, Ross stayed at his parents’ house in Florida for six wonderful weeks and worked on his golf game. He came dangerously close to beating his dad - who practices a lot more than Ross. Ross was also an excellent tennis player, and was a good pickleball player the first time he picked up a paddle.

Ross is survived by his parents, Doug and Lisa (Laabs) Dillman; brother, Kyle (Becca) Dillman; and nephew, Henry Dillman; and aunts and uncles, Dianne Dillman (Mike), Dennis Dillman (Marge), Gretchen Styles, Peter Laabs (Cheryl), Dirk Laabs (Lisa Kim), and Kris Leguizamon. He was preceded in death by his aunt, Becky Rondinelli (Joe); paternal grandparents, Alice and Darrell Dillman; and maternal grandparents, Gail and Henry Laabs.

A memorial service will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 27, 2025. A visitation will be held at the funeral home from 1 p.m. until the time of the service on Sunday.

Memorials may be made to Angel’s Wish Pet Adoption and Resource Center or Safe Communities (Attn: Drug Harm Reduction). Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson East
Funeral & Cremation Care
5203 Monona Drive
(608) 221-5420

Ross Davis Dillman

August 24, 1989 - July 12, 2025

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