Obituary for Jerome L Rozmus
Jerome L. Rozmus, age 82. Beloved husband of Vita Rae Rozmus nee Zerelli; loving father of Scott (Kelly Cassidy) Rozmus and Keith (Kristin) Rozmus; beloved son of the late Vincent J. and Frances A. Rozmus nee Ziaja; fond grandfather of Luke, Alec, Nicholas, Natalie, Andrew, Jack, and Samantha; dear brother of Thomas (Arlene) Rozmus and the late Chester, Casey, and Thaddeus; fond uncle of several nieces and nephews.
Jerry was the youngest of five children born to Vincent and Frances Rozmus. He attended St. Stanislaus Bishop & Martyr Parish School and from there enrolled at Lane Technical High School in Chicago and later Wright Junior College and the University of Illinois in Champaign.
Jerry’s friends have commented over the years that he always seemed to be the best of their group at any sport and at Lane he excelled both in basketball and baseball. Jerry was a member of Lane’s State Championship baseball team in 1956 and famously pitched in an historic city championship game versus arch-rival Taft High School, where Lane lost after a missed suicide squeeze play extended the game. At Wright J.C., Jerry pitched in the junior college World Series, where he was voted the player most likely to succeed in baseball from among the tournament’s participants. At Illinois, he was a member of Illinois’ Big 10 Championship baseball team. Jerry signed a professional contract with the Chicago White Sox and had a promising start to his career, going 17-5 and posting a 1.44 E.R.A. for the Clinton C-Sox, who won their division both halves of that year. Jerry was voted to the Midwest League’s Topps Chewing Gum company All Star team that year as well. Jerry’s baseball career experienced a set back shortly thereafter when he suffered a shoulder injury during a training exercise with his Marine Corps Reserve Unit. Working to rehab that injury, Jerry damaged his knee and though he continued trying to rehabilitate both did not return to the dominant level he had experienced previously. Jerry never seemed to regret having his professional baseball career derailed, commenting once to his son that “if I had not gotten hurt, I might not have ever met your mother.”
Jerry met his future wife, Vita Rae Zerelli, when the two worked for All State insurance in the mid 1960’s. On their first date, Jerry made a $1 bet with Vita and won. A fierce competitor, Jerry took Vita’s dollar, prompting her to ponder, “what kind of guy is this?”For the rest of his life, Jerry carried that crinkled dollar in his wallet.
Jerry and Vita were married on September 28, 1968 and purchased a home in River Grove where they lived together the rest of their lives. A couple of years later, Jerry and Vita had their first child, Scott, and in another two years their final child, Keith. Jerry always encouraged the boys to work hard, to be competitive, and to be respectful. Vita would criticize Jerry when he would make diving catches to rob the boys. of hits while playing whiffle ball in their back yard, but Jerry would respond that “if I let them win, they won’t ever be competitive.” While the boys each ended up earning various accolades as they grew into adulthood, Jerry often would say that what he was most proud of was that he raised them to be good men who stayed out of trouble.
One of Jerry’s greatest sorrows was the loss of his oldest brother, Chester, who served in the Marines and was killed on Iwo Jima in World War II, a week before Jerry’s fifth birthday. Jerry was able to visit Chester’s grave site at the Punchbowl Crater military cemetery in Hawaii in 1986, something that was very important to him.
Among Jerry’s great joys were his many friends that he met throughout life. Whether they were chums from the neighborhood who attended St. Stan’s; teammates from Lane, the University of Illinois or the White Sox; business colleagues and associates; guys from the card game at a local bakery; or fellow handicappers at the old Maywood Park, Jerry seemed to know and like and be liked by many, many people. His circle included some famous names as well as many who were famous to Jerry whether the world knew them or not and his stories about growing up in Chicago and playing sports entertained his whole family. Jerry’s impact on others was shown when his long time friend from St. Stan’s, Ron Bartkowicz, learned of Jerry’s sudden and rapid downturn in health on April 11 and made it to his side to support him and thus represented all of the many friends Jerry had made in his eighty-two years.
Another of Jerry’s great joys were his seven grandchildren. Jerry loved talking sports with them, watching their games, and hearing them review the results of their games and meets. He enjoyed the opportunities that technology presented to watch live streams of events he could not attend in person, even if his sons sometimes struggled to get him the right links. Scholastically, Jerry had a special interest in handicapping where he thought the older grandchildren would attend college.
Jerry will be missed by many, particularly those accustomed to his sharp wit and candor. The family asks that those seeking to honor Jerry consider the following. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the St. Jude’s Children’s fund. Please remember Vita and, if there are special memories you have of Jerry or special stories about him that you cherish, please write them down on an index card and send them to Vita who will share them with the family. While Jerry has left this world, our collective memories of him can help ease the pain of loss and even bring a smile. Thank you in advance for taking the time to share them.
Visitation will be held on Friday, April 22, 2022 from 9:00 am until the time of the Chapel Service at 11:00 am at Cumberland Chapels 8300 W. Lawrence Ave. Norridge, IL 60706. Interment is private. For more info please call 708-456-8300.
Jerry was the youngest of five children born to Vincent and Frances Rozmus. He attended St. Stanislaus Bishop & Martyr Parish School and from there enrolled at Lane Technical High School in Chicago and later Wright Junior College and the University of Illinois in Champaign.
Jerry’s friends have commented over the years that he always seemed to be the best of their group at any sport and at Lane he excelled both in basketball and baseball. Jerry was a member of Lane’s State Championship baseball team in 1956 and famously pitched in an historic city championship game versus arch-rival Taft High School, where Lane lost after a missed suicide squeeze play extended the game. At Wright J.C., Jerry pitched in the junior college World Series, where he was voted the player most likely to succeed in baseball from among the tournament’s participants. At Illinois, he was a member of Illinois’ Big 10 Championship baseball team. Jerry signed a professional contract with the Chicago White Sox and had a promising start to his career, going 17-5 and posting a 1.44 E.R.A. for the Clinton C-Sox, who won their division both halves of that year. Jerry was voted to the Midwest League’s Topps Chewing Gum company All Star team that year as well. Jerry’s baseball career experienced a set back shortly thereafter when he suffered a shoulder injury during a training exercise with his Marine Corps Reserve Unit. Working to rehab that injury, Jerry damaged his knee and though he continued trying to rehabilitate both did not return to the dominant level he had experienced previously. Jerry never seemed to regret having his professional baseball career derailed, commenting once to his son that “if I had not gotten hurt, I might not have ever met your mother.”
Jerry met his future wife, Vita Rae Zerelli, when the two worked for All State insurance in the mid 1960’s. On their first date, Jerry made a $1 bet with Vita and won. A fierce competitor, Jerry took Vita’s dollar, prompting her to ponder, “what kind of guy is this?”For the rest of his life, Jerry carried that crinkled dollar in his wallet.
Jerry and Vita were married on September 28, 1968 and purchased a home in River Grove where they lived together the rest of their lives. A couple of years later, Jerry and Vita had their first child, Scott, and in another two years their final child, Keith. Jerry always encouraged the boys to work hard, to be competitive, and to be respectful. Vita would criticize Jerry when he would make diving catches to rob the boys. of hits while playing whiffle ball in their back yard, but Jerry would respond that “if I let them win, they won’t ever be competitive.” While the boys each ended up earning various accolades as they grew into adulthood, Jerry often would say that what he was most proud of was that he raised them to be good men who stayed out of trouble.
One of Jerry’s greatest sorrows was the loss of his oldest brother, Chester, who served in the Marines and was killed on Iwo Jima in World War II, a week before Jerry’s fifth birthday. Jerry was able to visit Chester’s grave site at the Punchbowl Crater military cemetery in Hawaii in 1986, something that was very important to him.
Among Jerry’s great joys were his many friends that he met throughout life. Whether they were chums from the neighborhood who attended St. Stan’s; teammates from Lane, the University of Illinois or the White Sox; business colleagues and associates; guys from the card game at a local bakery; or fellow handicappers at the old Maywood Park, Jerry seemed to know and like and be liked by many, many people. His circle included some famous names as well as many who were famous to Jerry whether the world knew them or not and his stories about growing up in Chicago and playing sports entertained his whole family. Jerry’s impact on others was shown when his long time friend from St. Stan’s, Ron Bartkowicz, learned of Jerry’s sudden and rapid downturn in health on April 11 and made it to his side to support him and thus represented all of the many friends Jerry had made in his eighty-two years.
Another of Jerry’s great joys were his seven grandchildren. Jerry loved talking sports with them, watching their games, and hearing them review the results of their games and meets. He enjoyed the opportunities that technology presented to watch live streams of events he could not attend in person, even if his sons sometimes struggled to get him the right links. Scholastically, Jerry had a special interest in handicapping where he thought the older grandchildren would attend college.
Jerry will be missed by many, particularly those accustomed to his sharp wit and candor. The family asks that those seeking to honor Jerry consider the following. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the St. Jude’s Children’s fund. Please remember Vita and, if there are special memories you have of Jerry or special stories about him that you cherish, please write them down on an index card and send them to Vita who will share them with the family. While Jerry has left this world, our collective memories of him can help ease the pain of loss and even bring a smile. Thank you in advance for taking the time to share them.
Visitation will be held on Friday, April 22, 2022 from 9:00 am until the time of the Chapel Service at 11:00 am at Cumberland Chapels 8300 W. Lawrence Ave. Norridge, IL 60706. Interment is private. For more info please call 708-456-8300.