Peter Rosa

Pete Rosa, 61, passed away with family by his side on January 23, 2015 at Virginia Beach General Hospital. Pete was born in New York City, New York on September 1, 1953 to Enrico and Concetta Rosa. He had four older sisters, Dina Wilen, Jeanie Laino, Elaine Bogden, and Carol Montalbano, whom he loved and admired. He also enjoyed the role of uncle which he played to 11 nieces and nephews. Pete grew up in Brooklyn, New York and spent his early days playing stick ball, street hockey, and passing time on the avenue with his family and neighbors. Pete had an incredible work ethic and dedication to his family as a husband and father. He spent 30 years in the Navy during which time he had the opportunity to experience many corners of the globe. Pete was married to his wife April for 34 years and they had two children, Jessica and Peter. Pete often found interesting ways of staying in touch with his family during deployment. He wrote two Christmas stories for his children and sent many tokens of his affection. After retirement from the Navy in 1994, Pete then continued to pursue the art of dental technology is different capacities. Pete had many interests and talents. He took great pleasure in playing the guitar, playing softball during his time in the Navy, riding his bicycle around Virginia Beach, and playing roller hockey and ice hockey. Pete played many games as a member of his hockey team at Iceland Family Skating in Virginia Beach where he was always amongst friends. He was strong and active throughout his life, and even after he was diagnosed in May of 2013 he continued to ride his bike, play hockey, and began assistant coaching children. Pete loved to tease, joke, and entertain with his family and friends with his creative sense of humor and interesting recollection of the past. Pete recounted time spent with his pet dolphin Flopper who lived in the backyard of his Brooklyn home. He also fashioned his own history of the New York roadways by telling the story of “Eddie Van Wyck”, the man that Van Wyck Expressway was supposedly named after to thank Eddie for putting out the roadside candles prior to the modern conveniences of street lights. Even during Pete’s final days the last part of his personality to leave us was his sense of humor. It will be impossible to sum up the beauty, humor, and complexity of Pete’s life. His memory will be revisited and shared for years to come. In an effort to continue to appreciate Pete’s presence in this world and in our lives, Pete’s wife and children will welcome all family, colleagues, his fellow serviceman, hockey buddies, and friends to their home on Saturday, January 31, 2015 from 1:00pm-4:00pm for a remembrance and celebration. Please join The Rosa Family in the telling of stories, listening to music, sharing photos, and partaking in Pete’s favorite foods and snacks for the afternoon. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Pete’s name to Hockey Fights Cancer by going to http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=25343.