Obituary for John J. Rossi
John James Rossi, age 68, of Wooster Ohio, Billings Montana, Kihei Hawaii, among many others, passed away on the morning of Dec 17th, 2020, at his home resting comfortably.
He leaves behind a loving wife of 25 years Cheryl, two sons, John D., and Nicholas along with his daughter in law Lindsey and their new grandchild Vynn. He is also survived by countless friends and family members whom he loved dearly, including his sister Janice, her husband Dr Lawrence Gervasi and their 4 children, Christina, Nicholas, Alexa, Marissa, his brother and sister in law Kenneth and Susan Grover, their daughter Emily. He was especially comforted by constant conversations over the past few years with his aunt Margie (age 97), sister of John’s Father whom John lost at an early age, his cousin Bobby, and his close family members in Hawaii, Gina, Earl, Mark, and their loving families, just to name a few.
John J. Rossi was born in 1952 to Lucille and John Rossi, and raised by Lucille and Tom Byrne after John’s father passed away in 1960, near Newark, New Jersey. John, after graduating high school, was drafted into the United States Army, much like his father before him, which he accepted with the same sense of resolve, and in 1970 served in Vietnam as an infantryman with the 101st Airborne Division. After completion of his first tour he volunteered for a second tour, and finally returned home in 1973 with both a purple heart and a bronze star, among other decorations for valor.
After completion of his service, John attended electronics school at night, and built the foundations of his later accomplishments in the telecommunications field. John worked for a number of major telecommunications organizations throughout his life, but seemed most proud of his more recent accomplishments at Nortel Networks, where he was awarded the coveted Top Gun award and the Voyager cruise award, for further outstanding work. Unfortunately not long after winning his second set of awards at Nortel his health deteriorated to the point where he was forced into long term disability.
While unable to work physically, his mind remained sharp and he was instrumental in the multi-part court proceeding fighting for his and his fellow long term disabled workers’ rights during the Nortel bankruptcy crisis, which they won after considerable legal efforts. He was recognized not only by his fellow employees for whom he fought, but also by the lead council of the legal team, as well as the presiding judge, for his unwavering dedication and considerable efforts.
Despite suffering from ongoing health issues he managed to make a well remembered trip to Mevagissey England, where he spent time with one of his closest friends Gerry and his wife Sue, and became an honorary Cornishman for life. He also recently took a trip to Hawaii to visit his close and well loved extended family who reside there. As travel became near impossible his interests shifted to spending time cooking, usually a wide variety of Italian dishes and classic American BBQ, many of which were smoked for hours on end, with military-equse precision. Even when unable to leave the bed, his cooking instructions became ever more detailed, as he moved into the role of chef-strategist, relaying new lessons from the food network and allowing his “sous chefs” to take over the actual cooking. He will be missed, more than words can express.
Due to the current pandemic and for the safety of others, the family has requested there be no services or calling hours at this time.
A Celebration of his life will take place at a later date at the convenience of the family.
Custer-Glenn Funeral Home in Wooster is honored to serve the family.
The family wishes to extend their most sincere thanks to Ohio Life Care Hospice, Wooster Community Hospital Home Health, St. Mary’s, the Liver Transplant Team at the Cleveland Clinic, and a special thanks to the family of the donor liver which he received.
Words of comfort may be shared with the family either privately and publicly at: www.custerglenn.com.
He leaves behind a loving wife of 25 years Cheryl, two sons, John D., and Nicholas along with his daughter in law Lindsey and their new grandchild Vynn. He is also survived by countless friends and family members whom he loved dearly, including his sister Janice, her husband Dr Lawrence Gervasi and their 4 children, Christina, Nicholas, Alexa, Marissa, his brother and sister in law Kenneth and Susan Grover, their daughter Emily. He was especially comforted by constant conversations over the past few years with his aunt Margie (age 97), sister of John’s Father whom John lost at an early age, his cousin Bobby, and his close family members in Hawaii, Gina, Earl, Mark, and their loving families, just to name a few.
John J. Rossi was born in 1952 to Lucille and John Rossi, and raised by Lucille and Tom Byrne after John’s father passed away in 1960, near Newark, New Jersey. John, after graduating high school, was drafted into the United States Army, much like his father before him, which he accepted with the same sense of resolve, and in 1970 served in Vietnam as an infantryman with the 101st Airborne Division. After completion of his first tour he volunteered for a second tour, and finally returned home in 1973 with both a purple heart and a bronze star, among other decorations for valor.
After completion of his service, John attended electronics school at night, and built the foundations of his later accomplishments in the telecommunications field. John worked for a number of major telecommunications organizations throughout his life, but seemed most proud of his more recent accomplishments at Nortel Networks, where he was awarded the coveted Top Gun award and the Voyager cruise award, for further outstanding work. Unfortunately not long after winning his second set of awards at Nortel his health deteriorated to the point where he was forced into long term disability.
While unable to work physically, his mind remained sharp and he was instrumental in the multi-part court proceeding fighting for his and his fellow long term disabled workers’ rights during the Nortel bankruptcy crisis, which they won after considerable legal efforts. He was recognized not only by his fellow employees for whom he fought, but also by the lead council of the legal team, as well as the presiding judge, for his unwavering dedication and considerable efforts.
Despite suffering from ongoing health issues he managed to make a well remembered trip to Mevagissey England, where he spent time with one of his closest friends Gerry and his wife Sue, and became an honorary Cornishman for life. He also recently took a trip to Hawaii to visit his close and well loved extended family who reside there. As travel became near impossible his interests shifted to spending time cooking, usually a wide variety of Italian dishes and classic American BBQ, many of which were smoked for hours on end, with military-equse precision. Even when unable to leave the bed, his cooking instructions became ever more detailed, as he moved into the role of chef-strategist, relaying new lessons from the food network and allowing his “sous chefs” to take over the actual cooking. He will be missed, more than words can express.
Due to the current pandemic and for the safety of others, the family has requested there be no services or calling hours at this time.
A Celebration of his life will take place at a later date at the convenience of the family.
Custer-Glenn Funeral Home in Wooster is honored to serve the family.
The family wishes to extend their most sincere thanks to Ohio Life Care Hospice, Wooster Community Hospital Home Health, St. Mary’s, the Liver Transplant Team at the Cleveland Clinic, and a special thanks to the family of the donor liver which he received.
Words of comfort may be shared with the family either privately and publicly at: www.custerglenn.com.