Thomas Francis Rossi

Thomas was born on December 22, 1956 in Passaic, New Jersey, to his parents, Joseph and Frances Rossi. Tom grew up in River Vale, New Jersey, and attended Pascack Valley High School where he excelled in wrestling and track & field. After graduation, he attended Bridgeport University in Bridgeport, Connecticut, where he studied industrial design before moving to western Virginia to study woodworking under a mentor which ignited his passion for the craft. Tom returned to New Jersey where he met and married the love of his life, Leslie, and together they raised two sons, Matthew & Jason. He started his own custom cabinet business before relocating his family and business to Cary, North Carolina, to be closer to extended family. Throughout his career, he created many unique cabinets and furniture pieces, and many have become family heirlooms. He was truly gifted and his talent was unsurpassed. Tom was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed fishing, camping, and boating. He loved his NY Yankees! He cherished the summers he spent on Long Island, New York and Vermont with dear friends, his family camping trips to Lake George and Maine and the many family beach trips. Those trips allowed him to share his love of the water with his sons and extended family, spending time together fishing, crabbing and enjoying their boat in Sneads Ferry, North Carolina, where his parents had retired. Tom had a strong spiritual faith that guided his life and fed his tremendous strength of character.

He will be lovingly remembered by his parents, Joseph and Frances Rossi; Leslie Rossi and their sons Matthew Rossi (Mary Beth and grandson Hunter) and Jason Rossi; brother Mark Rossi (Kim); brother Joseph Rossi; brother Michael Rossi (Diane); and many nieces and nephews.

A funeral mass will be held on Friday, January 31, 2020 at 11:00 AM at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in the St. John Fisher Chapel, 632 Laurel Hill Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27514.

Memorial contributions can be donated to:

SECU Jim & Betsy Bryan Hospice Home of UNC Health Care

https://www.uncmedicalcenter.org/uncmc/care-treatment/hospice/make-a-gift/

St. Jude Children’s hospital

https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html

Condolences can be sent to apexfuneral.net