John Joseph De Rosa Jr.

John Joseph De Rosa Jr. passed away peacefully at his home on 27 July 2024 with his two
daughters by his side. John was born on Thanksgiving Day - Nov 27 th , 1930 to John and Catherine
De Rosa in Jersey City, New Jersey. He attended Boniface Catholic Grade School and played
baseball for them. He graduated from High School and continued his studies at the RCA School of
Electronics while working for the American Can Company.

He met his future wife at a Halloween party and they married on June 20, 1954 at Saint George
Ukrainian Catholic Church in New York City, New York. They lived in Jersey City, New Jersey and
had four children born at Margaret Hague Maternity Hospital in Jersey City, New Jersey. The four
children are: John De Rosa III of Ridgecrest, Ca; Joseph De Rosa of Bakersfield, Ca; Catherine Mattox
of Ridgecrest, Ca and Frances Pegler of Village of Lakewood, Illinois. He then started his
government career working for U.S. Army Picatinny Arsenal and moved his family to Lake
Hopatcong, New Jersey where he built his own home.

In 1972 he and his family moved to China Lake, CA to work for the Naval Weapons Center as an
Electronics Engineer. He worked 42+ years for the government until his retirement from the base.
While working full time on the base he attended Cerro Coso Community College, graduated with an
Associate's Degree and began teaching electronics and automotive classes at Cerro Coso part time.
He was involved with the Desert Ceramic Club on the base. He was a member of the Indian Wells
Gem & Mineral club for over 45 years and President of the club for many, many, many, years up
until the day he passed away. He was an avid rock hound as well as an avid gardener, growing
tomatoes, grapes and fruit trees.

He was involved with Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, coached Little
League baseball, football and was an umpire for baseball. He enjoyed playing the guitar, deer
hunting, pheasant hunting, fishing, and travelling/cruising the world with his wife of 69 years.
He loved to travel with his family on many road trips and cruises: Niagara Falls, Alaska, Italy,
China, Russia, Iceland (where he bathed in the Thermal Baths at the Blue Lagoon), Ukraine, Croatia,
Sardinia, Calabria, Greece, Spain, Mexico, Hawaii, England, Canada, and the Panama Canal.
He was a very caring and giving person always donating to many charities in need. He
participated in the Relay for Life cancer walk every year. He was a carpenter, welder, electrician,
automotive repairer, engineer, family man, and a devoted Catholic. He always said "I can fix
anything except a broken heart and the 10 commandments." He is greatly loved, will be forever
missed, and forever in our hearts.

John is survived by: John De Rosa III-son, Catherine (De Rosa) Mattox-daughter, Frances (De
Rosa) Pegler-daughter; Judith De Rosa-sister; Paul Predoehl-nephew; Robert Pegler-son-in-law.
John was preceded in death by: Frances De Rosa-wife, Joseph John De Rosa-son; John De Rosa
Sr.-father, Catherine De Rosa-mother, George P. De Rosa – uncle, Antonia Pochmursky-mother in
law; John Pochmursky-father in law; Vernon Predoehl-brother-in-law; Jerry Mattox-son-in-law and
Karla DeRosa-daughter-in-law.