LELAND — George Barnett Rosica — a man larger than life — died peacefully at his home in Leland, North Carolina, in October of 2024, after celebrating his 80th birthday earlier in the year.
George was born in 1944, to Gabriel Rosica and Elma Pollock in the Bronx, New York. He grew up in Pelham Manor, New York, with his parents, paternal grandmother, and two older brothers, Gabe and Adam. Thanks to his grandmother, Martha, their home was filled with traditional Italian food, and that is where George developed his love for cooking and eating. When he would eat too much at dinner, his grandmother would serve him ice cream, “to settle his stomach.” He lived by that motto until he passed, enjoying ice cream up to his last days.
George grew up loving and playing sports. While he was not always the most talented player on various team, he worked hard, and his teammates cheered him on when the coach finally played him in the last game of his senior year. That persistence and commitment to succeed laid the foundation for his future career.
He graduated from Pelham Memorial High School in 1961, and then earned a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from New York University in 1966. He furthered his education with a Master of Business Administration from the University of Delaware in 1972.
George married Barbara Bonaiuto in September 1966 at Mt. Carmel Church in Elmsford, New York. He took a position with Hamilton Standard in Hartford, Connecticut. Their first child, Beth Ann, was born in 1967, followed by their son, Michael George, in 1970. George and Barbara later divorced in 1980.
The family moved to Delaware, and George accepted a position with Kaumagraph Corporation, a printing and manufacturing business, in 1974. With persistence and hard work, he advanced within the company and eventually served as President. George was granted two patents by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in 1993 as the inventor of the “method of making a molded applique product.” He is remembered by the owner of the company and his co-workers as a dedicated employee who would never ask anyone to do something that he wasn’t willing to do. George never hesitated to roll up his sleeves and perform any function that needed to be done.
George’s need for perfection was not only apparent at work — it was evident in every home he owned. His lawn and yard were the envy of every neighbor, and his home in North Carolina won multiple awards for the best yard by the Compass Pointe Homeowners Association. He was happiest spending endless hours in his yard, cutting the grass with two different lawn mowers and trimming his beautiful rose bushes. When George had to hire help with the yard, the landscaper said, “it would be honor to care for your yard.”
In addition to the joy he found working in the yard, George loved playing golf. Always the perfectionist, he constantly attempted to improve his game and was thrilled to boast three holes-in-one during his career. George spent many years living in Inniscrone on the golf course and playing regularly with his buddies. Part of the reason he wanted to move to North Carolina was to play golf year-round.
George met the love of his life, Karen Bachman Wimmer in 2006. They married on May 16, 2009, three years to the day of their first date. Karen loved George the first moment she met him and was willing to leave her large family and friends in Delaware to move with him to North Carolina.
George and Karen bought a lot in Compass Pointe in Leland, North Carolina, in 2009 when it was just a large plot of land with no amenities or houses. He had the vision to see what the community would become, and they took a risk and built one of the first houses. With a lot on the planned golf course, it would take seven years before he could actually play a round in his community. George served on the Landscape Committee and helped to shape Compass Pointe to what it is today.
He embraced his retirement and found a new group of golf partners and enjoyed booking their regular tee times every week. George also took a Master Gardner class and became certified so he could further improve his yard.
Perhaps George’s most impactful area of perfection was in the kitchen. He loved to make traditional Italian dishes that his grandmother taught him, but he also enjoyed finding and trying new recipes all the time. Karen loved his cooking and was grateful to have him make amazing meals every day. He would spend many days each year in December preparing homemade lasagna, including homemade noodles, sauce, and meatballs. George would bring the pan — weighing around 20 pounds — to his daughter’s house in Pennsylvania every year for Christmas dinner.
Family meant the most to George, and he doted on his grandchildren — Lauren (22), Luca (17), and Marco (15). He brought them cookies every time he saw them and spoiled them at Christmas and their birthdays. Grandpa even sent cards with money at Halloween, Thanksgiving, Valentine’s Day, and Easter. Spending time with them brought him great joy. George was an avid New York Giants and New York Mets fan and passed his love for the teams onto his children and grandchildren.
George lived life to the fullest. He loved good food, wine, music, dancing, and spending time with his family and friends. He epitomized Stevenson’s description as man who lived well, laughed often, and loved much. Even towards the end of his life when he bravely faced Leukemia for over a year, he kept a positive attitude, fought hard, and tried to make the most of time he had left. George was an inspiration to his family and friends.
George is survived by his beloved wife, Karen Rosica; his daughter, Beth Ann Rosica (Don Urbanic); his son Michael George Rosica; his grandchildren Lauren Rosica, Luca Urbanic, Marco Urbanic; his brothers Gabriel Rosica (Bettina) and Adam Rosica (Debi); his stepchildren Gail Hughes, Michele (Robert) Gispert, Beth Williamson, and Steve Wimmer; his step grandchildren Robby Gispert, Meg Hughes, Stephanie Gispert, Andrew Gispert, Rowan Williamson, and Jackson Wimmer; his brother-in-law Michael Bachman (Dottie); his sister-in-law Sherry Louth; and nieces and nephews Greg Rosica (Holly), Julie Gosnell (James), Mark Rosica (Leigh), Alexis Rosica, and Adam Andrew Rosica.
A celebration of life will be held at Hartefeld National Golf Club, located at 1 Hartefeld Dr, Avondale, PA 19311, on Tuesday, October 22, 2024. Visitation will occur from 11:00am to 12:30pm, immediately followed by a memorial service and a luncheon. The venue was selected to commemorate his love of the game, and please feel free to dress in golf attire to honor his memory.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in George’s name.
