May 11, 1920 - July 6, 2018
Teacher and trombonist Nick Rossi was born in a steel town near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; where he worked for the Carnegie Illinois Steel Company for two years until the wartime draft took him to Ft. Riley, Kansas in 1942. At Ft. Riley, he was principal trombonist in the Cavalry Replacement Training Center Band until the end of the war. In 1946, he re-enlisted to join the official “Air Corps” band in Washington D.C. From 1956-59, he held that same position with the United States Air Force Academy band and later with the NORAD band in 1959 - until his military retirement in 1962. While in Washington D.C., he received a bachelor’s degree in music from the University of Maryland. He worked with the Colorado Springs Public School System from 1963-65 as a classroom instrumental music instructor and, from 1966-69, as music coordinator for the Arts and Humanities Title III program at Colorado College. He earned a master’s degree in guidance and counseling from the University of Colorado. While freelancing in Los Angeles after his military retirement, he met trombonist Jane Niermann in the Orange County Symphony. They performed together in the Colorado Springs Symphony from 1968-69 and then auditioned for the San Antonio Symphony; where they played together from 1969-86. Nick continued to play as principal trombonist and served as personnel manager in the San Antonio Symphony until his retirement in 1992. After 22 years with the symphony, Nick was with the Roaring Twenties Dance Band until the “Twenties” faded into memory lane. His love for his Savior was expressed in offerings of his God-given musical talent back in worship services. He had also served in planning the building of the daycare center at King of Kings Lutheran Church. His final and most memorable performances were with classical guitar accompaniment, playing beautiful, old, favorite tunes to appreciative audiences until age 84.
He is survived by wife, Jane and their daughter, Nina (William John) and four grandchildren, Paolina, Gianna, William John II, and Nicholas W. Rose in Wyoming, and his two sons Nicholas W. (Mary) and William C. (Serenity) Rossi in Colorado.
