Dominick A. "Doc" DeRosa

Mr. Dominick A. "Doc" DeRosa, age 85, of Utica, passed away on Wednesday, January 25, 2006, at the Faxton-St. Luke's Healthcare Center with his family by his side. Born in Utica on March 30, 1920, Dominick was the son of the late Nicholas and Adele (Graziadei) DeRosa. Raised and educated locally, he was a member of the class of '38, the first graduating class of T.R. Proctor High School. He pursued collegiate studies at Cornell University where he graduated from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in 1942. A veteran of World War II, he served with the U.S. Army in the European Theater of Operations, participating in several significant military events, including landing on Omaha Beach on D-Day+1 during the Invasion of Normandy. He was married to the former Laura Orlando. The couple shared a loving and devoted union. Mr. DeRosa was employed with the Dept. of Agriculture and Markets, first as a Dairy Products Specialist and then as a Dairy Bacteriological Lab Inspector. He retired in 1982 after a career of conscientious and dedicated service. He was very active and involved in numerous professional organizations and received many awards for his service: he was a member and past president of the CNY Milk Sanitoriums Assn.; he also belonged to the NYS Dairy Products Specialist Assn., a group which he once served in the office of president as well as editor of the organization's newsletter, "Il Presidente"; he was the recipient of the Dairy Product Specialist Award, the Mordat Award, and of the very special "Burnt Pizza" Award from his department associates in the Cornell Dairy Dept. At one time he was invited to be a guest lecturer in the Dairy Science classes of Professor Silivas at SUNY Morrisville. Dominick was an exemplary and devoted family man. His major priorities in life were his wife and children. He was always attentive to their needs, supportive of their activities, and interested in their various concerns. He was a warm-hearted person, one who was ever thoughtful, patient, sincere, and accepting in all of his relationships with family and friends. In addition to his many noteworthy personal qualities, his family will always remember him and admire him for his skills and accomplishments as a home handyman. A communicant of St. Agnes Church, Dominick was involved with various parish committees, including his valued participation on the Parish Council and his leadership as president of the group. He also served his parish community as a Eucharistic minister. Mr. DeRosa is survived by his wife, Laura; three daughters and sons-in-law, Patricia "Patty" and Richard L. Connolly of Utica, and twins, Mary and John Wolf of Chittenango, and Linda and Robert Kula of Yorkville; and a son, Nicholas "Nick" A. DeRosa and Donna of Barneveld. He is also survived by 11 grandchildren: Terry Currier; Tammy Huyck; Tim Currier; Andrew, Renee, Kristen, Alicia, and Jennifer Wolf; Shannon Kula; Shawn Kula; and Cheryl DeRosa. In addition, he leaves five great-grandchildren, Christopher, Richard, Shayna, Chelsea, and Brianna; former daughter-in-law, Patricia DeRosa; and a number of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and cousins. He was predeceased by a brother, Pasquale; and a great-grandson, Edan Wolf. The family offers its heartfelt thanks to the physicians and nurses of the ER and the CCU at the Faxton-St. Luke's Healthcare Center, especially acknowledging Dr. Tisch, Winnie, and Carrie for their care and concern. Visitation will be held today (Sunday) from 2-5 at the Eannace Funeral Home, Inc., 932 South St., corner of Hammond Ave. By family request, please omit floral offerings. For those wishing to do so, please consider memorial donations in Doc's honor to the Assn. for the Blind or to St. Agnes Church; envelopes will be available at the funeral home. Mr. DeRosa's funeral will commence on Monday at 12:00 noon from the funeral home and at 1:00 p.m. at St. Agnes Church where his Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated with Military Honors. Interment will take place in St. Agnes Cemetery at the convenience of the family.

Dominick A. "Doc" DeRosa

March 30, 1920 - January 25, 2006