Donald Rossman

Donald Rossman, age 68 of Wayne, died on Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018.  He had lived in Wayne since 1994.

Don grew up in Passaic and graduated from Passaic High School in 1968.  He took his first job with Home Fuel Oil Company as a dispatcher, and eventually landed a sales job with Keller-Depken.  He loved the work and the people he worked with.  Of course, he also had a lot of fun working backstage security at the Capitol Theatre in Passaic during the 1970’s and 1980’s.  Working with John Scher, Don met and partied with all the major bands of the era.  The Capitol Theatre lineup often included acts such as: Bruce Springsteen, Yes, Chuck Berry, Alice Cooper, the Allman Brothers Band, the Byrds, the Kinks, T. Rex, Richie Havens, and The Grateful Dead often played three-night stands.  After one Black Sabbath show, Don had to climb up into the rafters to bring Ozzy Osbourne back down to safety.  All the people that Don worked with at The Capitol Theatre were like family, and they have remained very close throughout the ensuing years.  They have frequent reunions, picnics, bowling nights, and continue to make memories together while reminiscing about the incredible times they had together during the years they worked at the Capitol Theatre.  Don loved them all very much.

Don met Marie Shortino in 1983 and they enjoyed their first date at “Yesterdays” in Clifton.  They ended up talking the night away until the place closed and they had to leave.  They tied the knot on September 26, 1987 at the Governor Morris and honeymooned in St. Maarten.  Settling in Garfield upon their return, they started to raise a family and Don became an amazing father to his two kids.  He loved being a dad and his children became everything to him.  His world revolved around his daughter Gina and he did everything for his little girl.  Don loved to watch his son Brian play hockey. He couldn’t be prouder of him on or off the ice. They vacationed every summer at the Ocean Towers in Wildwood, the same place Don had been going since he was a little boy himself.  Being near the ocean made him feel close to his father, and he especially enjoyed his time there.  He also liked fishing at Upper Greenwood Lake and going camping with his buddies.  Don and Marie celebrated thirty-one wonderful years together. To Don, Marie was the perfect wife because there was no other woman in the world that would have put up with him like she did.  Marie will miss him dearly.

Don is predeceased by his father Amady Rossman and is survived by his beloved wife Marie of Wayne, his two children; Brian and Gina, his mother; Rose Rossman, brother; Richard Rossman and his wife Patty of Riverdale, brother-in-law; Joe Shortino and his wife Linda of Naples, FL, sister-in-law; LuAnn Rosende and her husband Pete of Naples, FL, nieces; Bridget Pasznik and her husband Eddie, and Ariel Villegas and her husband Dave, Danielle and Lisa Rosende, and nephew, Christopher Rosende, and grand-niece/nephews; Kelsie, Edward, and Austin Pasznik.