Dean Francis DeRosa, 95, died peacefully on February 18, 2016 at Holy Family Hospital, Methuen, MA after an extended illness. He was the son of the late Ulysses and Marianna DeRosa of Andover, MA.
Dean graduated from Punchard High School in Andover and then attended the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, MA studying vocal training along with the world famous tenor, Mario Lanza. His bold tenor voice will always echo in the ears of his family and friends.
As wartime approached, he entered into the Osteopathic Medical School in Boston before attending Suffolk University College of Physicians and Surgeons- an accelerated training program for War time MD’s. Due to his college and medical background, he was made Company Commander in Basic training.
Dean was a WWII Navy veteran, serving as Medic in charge at the psychiatric ward at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Washington, D.C. and Hospital Corpsman, First Class, USN-1 in March of 1944. He served on board the hospital ship, U.S.S. Consolation AH-15 in May of 1945, then transferred to Pearl Harbor Station, as casualties mounted in the as the Allies took the islands near Japan. He received the WWII Victory Medal award in May of 1945.
In peacetime, Dean, worked at his uncle's factory, Grieco Brothers in Lawrence as a designer and cutter for men's fine clothing, with celebrity clients such as President John F. Kennedy, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Woody Allen. After 30 years of service, Dean worked independently as clothing designer for some of the largest clothing manufacturers at the time; Perry Ellis, London Fog, New Balance, Starter Corporation which supplied the official jackets for the National Hockey, NFL Football, the Boston Celtics and the New England Patriots.
Dean was actively involved with the Quakers, as his father had been during the First World War. He believed in pacifism, serving the war effort as a Conscientious Objector in WW 2 and later became head clerk of the Friends General Conference in 1985 over seeing 2,000 members. He enjoyed reading about history, philosophy, theology, engaging Laura, his wife of 26 years in many discussions about religion, arts and the spirit found in our "inner light".
In 2001, at the age of 81, he worked as a ranger at the Stevens Coolidge Estate in North Andover, MA every weekend for six years and loved sharing with delight the history of the estate to others.
Dean is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Laura Cavallaro DeRosa, of 26 years and predeceased by his first wife, E. Lee Livesey, along with sons, George DeRosa and Alan DeRosa. He is also survived by his son, Dr. Lee DeRosa of Bath, Maine and wife, Mary Condo DeRosa, daughter, Diane Green of Kingston, WA and husband, Robert Green, son, Christopher Dean DeRosa of Rockport, MA and wife, Janet C. DeRosa, a step-daughter, Deborah Klee Wenger of N.J. including many friends, nieces and nephews, seven grandchildren and ten-great grandchildren.
Services will held at the chapel on the grounds of the West Parish Garden Cemetery, 129 Reservation Road, Andover, MA 01810 on Thursday, February 25, 2016 at 1:00pm.