Obituary of Dr. Donald John Rosinski, DDS



Donald John ”Doc” Rosinski, Colonel USAR

Dr. Donald J. Rosinski, DDS, 86, of New York Mills, passed away at home with family members by his side, on Sunday, December 8, 2019. Colonel Donald John Rosinski was born the grandson of Polish immigrants, son of Walter and Bertha (Lupa) Rosinski. Born in NJ, He grew up in Utica and attended Holy Trinity and UFA, graduating in 1950. He attended the University of Buffalo with a DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) and then went to Utica College of Syracuse University for a Psychology degree. After graduating from Dental School, he served in the US Public Health Service with the US Coast Guard in Cape May, New Jersey. He married Rita E. Scatko, a graduate of UFA and Faxton Nursing School on August 3, 1957. 
He began his private Dental practice in September 1958 on Main Street in New York Mills. Dr. Rosinski belonged to the Oneida-Herkimer County Dental Society, The Fifth District Dental Society and the ADA. He continued his practice until he retired in 2004. In 1966 he and Rita built their home in New York Mills and raised seven children. His children, he said, were his blessings from God. 
 Donald was a member of Sacred Heart/St. Mary’s Church. He was an active member in the Nocturnal Adoration Society, Knights of Columbus (recently receiving an award for fifty plus years of service), St. Casimir’s Society, Holy Name Society, and a lector at the Polish masses at St. Mary’s. 
He was a 50 + year member of the NYM Lions Club. He had been the club’s secretary since he joined a year after the club’s charter. He was very active in the Youth Exchange Program. Because of his personal efforts, hundreds of area children were able to visit and study in other countries as well as host foreign exchange students - several who attended New York Mills High School for part of their oversea experience. He also was very involved in the Lions Club Vision Program, enabling area people to have needed equipment to assist with their visual impairment. He continued to work with area school nurses to collect old eyeglasses. Through this program, he helped get needed eye care for people unable to afford it.
 He has been a member of the New York Mills Historical Society. He was an avid reader, loved crossword puzzles, polkas and classical music. He was also once involved in the Friends of the Library and had recently donated boxes of his private book collection to the New York Mills and other local libraries. He helped so many, often without them knowing. 

He retired from the Army Reserves after twenty plus years of service, including the time he served as the Commander of the 1205 Dental Service Detachment at the Elihu Root United States Army Reserve Center. He took great pride in his military service and was a member of the MOAA, Bator Post 21 and the American Legion Post 1113.  He is predeceased by his parents Walter and Bertha (Lupa) Rosinski and in-laws, Stanley and Mildred (Koscinski) Scatko; brothers Alfred and Clifford Rosinski; sisters–in – law Peggy Rosinski, Roma Cox, and Janet Scatko; brothers – in – law John Cox, George Scatko, Stanley Podzielinski, niece MaryPat Rosinski Murray, nephews Mark Rosinski, Steve Cox, Glen Scatko, Eric Podzielinski and son – in – law, Robert Sylvester. He was also pre-deceased by two very good friends, Richard Kutas, leader of the Warsaw Express Polka Band, who wrote the “Dr. Don Polka”, Stanley Glowacki,with whom he cut, split and delivered cords and cords of firewood as exercise and guy-time, in addition to French cuisine and fine wines. His other good friend, ‘Tex Franzen’ , shared Donald’s passion for the military, history and computers. He leaves Rita, his wife of 62 years. His seven children: Dr. Donna J. Cotrupe (NYMills), Walter E. Rosinski (Rochester), Christine M. Congedo (John) (Maryland), Judith M. Rosinski (NYMills), Karen B. Sylvester (Georgia), Dr. Stanley J. Rosinski (Anne Dolansky) (Sauquoit), and Mathew M. Rosinski (North Carolina); Eighteen grandchildren: Sarah L. Cotrupe, Daniel J. Cotrupe, Catherine C. Cotrupe, Melissa (Bob) Bongiorni, Joseph (Ondrea) Cotrupe, Douglas A. (Christine) Dunkle, Melissa N. (Daniel) Dunkle Perez, Elizabeth N. (Nick) Haeuptle, Jacqueline (Adam) Baker, Benjamin Congedo, Noah Congedo, Shiloh Lockard, Matthew B. (Susan) White, Brittany M. (Jon Cvack) White, Justin M. White, Jacqueline M. White, Ryan A. Sylvester and Kirsten R. Sylvester. Fifteen great grandchildren: Emily and Ashley Mendez; Noa Franco and Zen Cotrupe; Connor and Harper Dunkle; Adriana, Caleb and Korbin Rodriquez-Dunkle, Nadia and Dominic Perez-Dunkle, Gabriel Perez; Eve Barker; and Kiley and Jakob White. He also left many nieces, nephews and cousins; and Donald’s best canine buddy, Jimmy, who shared many, many meals together, as Jimmy’s girth will tell. In keeping with his wishes, Donald was an Anatomical Gift donor to SUNY Upstate Medical University. He loved learning and teaching – even through his death. There will be no public calling hours. A Memorial Mass will be held on Saturday, January 4, 2020 at 10 am at Sacred Heart/St. Mary’s Church in NY Mills. Arrangements are under the direction of the Kowalczyk Funeral Homes, 284 Main St., NY Mills, NY. Donations can be made to the Sacred Heart and St. Mary of Czestochowa (Renovation Fund) 201 Main St # 1, New York Mills, NY 13417. Expressions of sympathy may be placed on Donald’s online memorial page by going to www.kowalczykfuneralhomes.com. New York Mills-- Dr. Donald John Rosinski, DDS, Col. USAR, Husband, father, dentist Dr. Donald J Rosinski, DDS, 86, of N.Y.Mills, passed away at home with family members by his side, on Sunday, Dec. 8,2019. He was born of Dec. 16th, 1932, in Newark, NJ, to Walter & Bertha (Lupa) Rosinski. He was the grandson of Polish immigrants. He grew up in Utica, NY, attending Holy Trinity, UFA (1950) and Utica College. He graduated from SUNY at Buffalo with a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) in 1956. On Aug.3, 1957, he was united in marriage to Rita E. Scatko. He was an avid reader, loved crossword puzzles, polkas and classical music. Dr. Rosinski began his private Dental practice in September 1958 on Main Street in New York Mills. He belonged to the Oneida-Herkimer County Dental Society, The Fifth District Dental Society and the ADA. He continued his practice until he retired in 2004. In 1966, he and Rita built their home in New York Mills and raised seven children. His children, he said, were his blessings from God. After Dental School, he served 2 years in the US Public Health Service, with the US Coast Guard in Cape May, NJ. He later enlisted in the USAR at the Elihu Root center. Dr. Rosinski retired after 20+ years in the Army Reserves as Colonel and Commander of the 1205th Dental Detachment in July 1993. He took great pride in his military service and was a member of the MOAA, Bator Post 21 and the American Legion Post 1113. Donald was a member of St. Mary’s Church. He was an active member of the Nocturnal Adoration Society, Knights of Columbus (recently receiving an award for fifty plus years of service), St. Casimir’s Society, Holy Name Society, and lectored at the Polish masses. He has been a member of the New York Mills Historical Society. He was also once involved in the Friends of the Library {{and had recently donated boxes of his private book collection to the New York Mills and other local libraries. }} He helped so many, often without them knowing. He was a 50 + year member of the NYM Lions Club. He had been the club’s secretary since he joined a year after the club’s charter. He was very active in the Youth Exchange Program and their Vision Program. Due to his personal efforts, hundreds of area children were able to visit and study in other countries as well as to host foreign exchange students. 
 He is predeceased by his parents Walter and Bertha (Lupa) Rosinski, brothers Alfred and Clifford Rosinski; sisters – in – law Peg Rosinski, Roma Cox, and Janet Scatko; brothers – in – law John Cox, George Scatko, Stanley Podzielinski, nephews Mark Rosinski, Steven Cox and Glen Scatko. He leaves Rita, his beloved wife of 62 years. His seven children: Dr. Donna Cotrupe (NYMills), Walter Rosinski (Rochester), Christine and John Congedo (Maryland), Judith Rosinski (NYMills), Karen Sylvester (Georgia), Dr. Stanley Rosinski (Anne Dolansky) (Sauquoit), and Mathew Rosinski (North Carolina); Eighteen grandchildren, fifteen great grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and cousins. In keeping with his wishes, Donald was an Anatomical Gift donor to Upstate Medical Center. He loved learning and teaching – even through his death. There will be no public calling hours. A Memorial Mass will be held on Sat., Jan. 4th, 2020 at 10am at Sacred Heart/St. Mary’s Church in N.Y.Mills. Arrangements are under the direction of the Kowalczyk Funeral Homes, 284 Main St, N.Y.Mills, NY. Donations can be made to the Lions Club or St. Mary’s Renovation Fund. Expressions of sympathy may be placed on Donald’s online memorial page by going to www.kowalczykfuneralhomes.com.