Obituary of John J. Rossi

John James Rossi (Jack to his family) passed away July 4th at his stepdaughter’s home in NY with family by his side. John was born in 1936 in Amsterdam, NY to Elmer Rossi (better known as the band leader Dusty Miller of the Colorado Wranglers) and Marion Steadwell Rossi. John was the third of four children born to Dusty and Marion. At age 15 he joined the US Air Force but returned home when his true age was discovered. He later enlisted in the Army from 1954 to 1957 and was stationed in Korea. In 1956 he married Diane Castleman and they had two children. In 1960, John moved to Washington DC and joined the Metropolitan Police Dept. In 1962, he joined the Prince George’s County (Maryland) Police Dept serving on several task forces and as an aide to the County Executive, retiring as Detective Sergeant in 1982. In 1984, he moved to Orlando, Florida where he resided with his late wife and love of his life Judy (Pearson) Rossi for 35 years. In Orlando he worked as Assistant Director of Security at The Sheraton Twin Towers for ten years, following that he and his wife worked as private detectives in the insurance fraud business in and around the Orlando area. John was the president of their HOA for many years and enjoyed photography. Together they bowled in various leagues and enjoyed playing cards with friends and traveling. They made frequent trips to New Smyrna Beach with family, a place very special to them.

John is survived by siblings Elmer Rossi (Stella Leonard), Marsha McGuigan, Deborah Joralemon, stepchildren Michelle Seelman (Michael) and Michael Bean, children Roxanne Rossi-Light and John Rossi Jr (Cathy), grandchildren Chelsea, Erin, Sarah, Kim, Ryan and Micah and great-grandchild Zelda and several nieces and nephews.

A portion of John’s cremains will be buried at St Mary’s Cemetery in Amsterdam, NY and the remainder will be scattered along with his wife Judy in New Smyrna Beach at a later date.

A private memorial service will be held at Betz, Rossi & Bellinger Family Funeral Home, 171 Guy Park Ave, Amsterdam, NY.  Please visit the online memorial at www.brbsfuneral.com

Donations can be made to The Officer Down Memorial page at ODMP.ORG