Jack L. Roosa, 95 years of age, of Eastham, MA, passed away on November 19, 2023, peacefully, at home, and surrounded by his family.
Jack was born on April Fools Day, 1924, in Kingston, NY, the son of Edna (Yerry) and Alva Henry Roosa. He graduated from Kingston High School in 1945, received his B.E. from SUNY New Paltz in 1949, his M.S. in Educational Administration from SUNY Albany in 1952, and his Ph. D. from SUNY Albany in 1968.
While at SUNY New Paltz, he met and fell in love with Emily LaBrie of Stottville, NY, who snatched him away from the clutches of the many other eligible young women in their just barely post-war class. They married in 1950.
Jack began teaching science and math at Philmont (NY) High School. As a natural leader, he was quickly promoted to teaching principal and then supervising principal in the Greenport (NY) School District. By 1966, he was superintendent of the Greenville (NY) Central School, and he ultimately was appointed district superintendent for Ulster County BOCES, which he ran for 17 years, through his retirement in 1987.
Jack also put his leadership skills to work supporting his community. Among other leadership positions, he was president of the Ulster County United Way, president of the Ulster County YMCA, president of the Wiltwyck Golf Club, chairperson of the CETA Advisory Council, and secretary of the Kingston Hospital Board of Trustees. He received the Distinguished Service Award for Community Service from the Hudson Jaycees in 1964 and was named Outstanding Leader of the Year by the Ulster County YMCA in 1978.
He was known for his incessant energy, indomitable persistence, irrepressible optimism, and smooth diplomatic skills.
During his long and well-deserved retirement, Jack split his time between Naples, FL and Eastham. He played golf and tennis and spent quality time with the love of his life, Emily, his children and grandchildren, and his good friends. He and his grandchildren loved to color, make arts and crafts projects, swim, and clam together.
Jack loved and was loved by everybody he knew. None of his family remembers him ever saying a bad word to or about anybody. He was a kind and gentle man.
Jack is survived by his wife, his children [Gary Roosa (Dianne Maddaloni), Beth Roosa (John Patty), and Jane Roosa (Tom Kowalczyk)], his 6 grandchildren [Jeremy Roosa, Susan Roosa (Rob Weitz), Anna Kowalczyk (Daniel Cohen), Sonya Kowalczyk, David Patty, and Christopher Patty], by his 2 great grandchildren Samuel and Nathaniel Weitz, and his sister Bev Roosa.
The immediate family held a private memorial service.
Donations in Jack’s memory can be made to the Naples Botanical Garden or
The American Heart Association.