Robert A. Rossi

BARRE – Robert A. Rossi, 104, of Cleary Street passed away on Monday, September 3, 2018 at Barre Gardens Nursing Home after a short illness.

Born November 22, 1913 in Barre, he was the son of Antonio and Irene (Comi) Rossi.

Robert attended local elementary schools, graduating from Spaulding High School in 1931 and attended Green Mountain Junior College thanks to a football scholarship though the Great Depression delayed the start of his post-secondary education a few years.

Robert served overseas in World War II in the European theatre. He was honorably discharged in 1945 with the rank of Captain.

Upon his return home, Robert married Beverly Silver, a South Barre schoolteacher with whom he happily spent more than half-a-century living on Cleary Street before she died in 2004.

He was employed in the granite industry for 39 years working as a boxer, a shipper, and an expediter.

In 2013 U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy, in acknowledging his 100 ^th birthday, called Robert Rossi, “a Vermonter who captures the distilled essence of Vermont..”

Robert was the beloved uncle of Lisa Sturgis (Rossi), George Konefal, Anne Black, Lori Newcomer and Timothy Cantara. He leaves his sister-in-law, Janice Cantara, and upstairs tenant and caring friend, David Williams.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his wife Beverly Silver Rossi, his brother Antonio Rossi of Burlington; and his sister Norma Charest Konefal of West Hartford, CT.

A private graveside service will be held at the convenience of his family.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Aldrich Public Library, 6 Washington Street, Barre, VT 05641, or to the Barre Congregational Church, 35 Church Street, Barre, VT 05641.