Rev. Salvatore Joseph Rosa
Deceased: 2020-12-09
Diocese: HARTFORD
ICTE Fall: 1995
Reverend Salvatore Joseph Rosa, 78, of Bloomfield, entered into eternal life on Wednesday, December 9, 2020 at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford. Born in Hartford on October 13, 1942, he was the son of the late Salvatore S. and Josephine (Bombanti) Rosa.
A Hartford native, Fr. Rosa began his early Catholic education at St. Peter School in Hartford. He would later attend St. Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield, undertaking both high school and college studies there. He then moved to Christ the King Seminary in New York before returning to St. Thomas Seminary to complete his formation. Ordained to the priesthood by the Most Reverend Joseph F. Donnelly at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph in Hartford on May 23, 1968. Fr. Rosa’s early parish assignments were as an assistant and then co-Pastor at St. Peter Church in Hartford. He would next minister at St. Anthony Church in Bristol and St. Mary Church in New Britain, and during that period was named the Vicar for Hispanics in the Archdiocese. Following his time in New Britain, Fr. Rosa was assigned as the Administrator at St. Paul Church in West Haven and, later, the Pastor of St. Jude Church in Derby.
He retired in 2011, but even in retirement, Fr. Rosa continued to support the Church and people of the Archdiocese, assisting with ministry in parishes and serving on both the Priests’ Retirement Board and the Presbyteral Council. A sports enthusiast, Fr. Rosa was a loyal fan of the UConn Women’s basketball team and loved attending many of their games. He also enjoyed football and was an avid reader. Fr. Rosa was a very generous individual and would faithfully donate to several missionaries.
Fr. Rosa is survived by a niece, Beth Slattery and her family of Massachusetts, a nephew, James Rosa and his family; a special cousin, Janet Camilleri and her husband Robert of Rocky Hill and family; other cousins and family members, James Bombanti and his wife Romeyn and family, Patricia Legrand and her husband Ludwig and family, predeceased cousin Annette Hills and her husband Michael and family, Sebastian Sbalcio and his wife Lois and family, Antoinette DeSanto and her husband Robert and family, Johann Biskupiak and her husband William and family, Antoinette Tripp and her husband Steve and family, Linda Pisko and her husband Lawrence and family, and Kathleen Lopolito and her husband Robert; a wonderful friend, Father David Dawson, and fellow priests in the Archdiocese; and many parishioners he ministered. Besides his beloved parents, Fr. Rosa was predeceased by a brother, James Rosa.
Due to the current health crisis, a private Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the convenience of the family in the Chapel of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center in Bloomfield. The Most Rev. Leonard F. Blair, Archbishop of Hartford, will be the Principal Celebrant. Burial will follow at the family plot at Rose Hill Memorial Park, (Section 16), Elm Street, Rocky Hill. There are no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Fr. Rosa’s name may be made to a favorite missionary of the donor’s choice. The D’Esopo-East Hartford Memorial Chapel, 30 Carter Street, East Hartford has been entrusted with the care of the funeral arrangements. For on-line expressions of sympathy to the family please visit www.desopoeh.com.
