Ronald Rossi

April 5, 1926 - May 19, 2012

Ronald Rossi, 86, of Rostraver Township, passed away peacefully Saturday, May 19, 2012, in his sleep. A son of the late Ramano and Ernesta Lenzini Rossi, he was born April 5, 1926, in Dunlevy. A graduate of Charleroi High school, he was on the baseball and bowling teams. He attended the University of Pittsburgh, where he played soccer and was a placekicker on the football team. Ron also served his country in the Korean War as an Army, sergeant first class, where he received a special commendation and honorable discharge in 1952. After his service, he returned to Charleroi where he owned and operated two service stations before taking a job at Charleroi Federal Savings Bank where he served as vice president of lending before retiring in 1998. In addition to recognition in his professional career, he was known for his fifty-plus years of contributions to soccer. He grew up in one of the most renowned athletic families in the Mon Valley and began playing soccer for Gallatin in the Junior Keystone League in the early 1940s. ""Growing up in Dunlevy, you did one of two things, played soccer or went swimming in the river."" Ron gained national attention in the late 1940s, participating in the US Olympic trials and made the final 30-man selection group for the 1948 Olympics. He spent most of his career playing for the Dunlevy Redbirds and helped them win several championships. Over his 15 year playing career, Ron gained national prominence in Amateur and Open Cup tournaments playing against some of the top teams and players in the sport. After he retired as a player, Ron coached soccer teams and officiated youth soccer games in the area and was instrumental in the formation of the Mon Valley Youth Soccer League in the late 1970s. He and his wife, Adele are credited with establishing the foundation for the successful youth and scholastic soccer programs in the Belle Vernon Area School District. In 1998, Ron was elected to the Mid-Mon Valley All Sports Hall of Fame, where he joined his brother Roger, elected in 1975. Through his life and particularly in retirement, Ron was also known for growing fresh, organic vegetables for family and friends. Whether it was his famous ""Ox-Heart"" tomatoes or his fresh Swiss chard, he had a great passion for all natural vegetable gardening. In 2001, he received a gardening award from the Mon Valley Garden Club. Ron will be terribly missed by his family and his many friends. Survivors include one son and daughter-in-law, Randy and Lynne Rossi; one granddaughter, Alexandra Rossi, all of Greensburg; three brothers-in-law and two sisters-in-law, Jack Sutherland, Jay and Martha Sutherland, all of Speers Hill, and Joyce and Ron Danko of Monessen; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 45 years, Lois Adele Sutherland Rossi, who died March 8, 2008 and an infant son, Mark Allen Rossi who died in 1963 ; one sister, Rena Santavicca; and four brothers, Tom Rossi, Ralph ""Beef"" Rossi, Roger Rossi and Ramo Rossi. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday in the FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORY INC., 700 Broad Ave., Belle Vernon, 724-929-5300. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday in the funeral home with the Rev. Suzanne Currie officiating. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery. www.FergusonFuneralHomeAndCrematory.com.