Today, Saturday, January 9, 2010 we said our final good bye to one of Wildwood's most colorful citizens to walk our streets. Edward "Pop-Pop" Rossi. At the golden age of 92, Pop-Pop Rossi was cracking jokes and making others laugh right up to the very end of a very remarkable life. His was a life that affected many people in our community as proven today at Assumption Church, which was filled to capacity.

Standing ever so proudly was his wife Mary, who greeted everyone with a warm hug, squeeze of the hand or a kiss on the cheek. Mary and Ed have left their mark on the Wildwood's and have produced a legacy that will continue to help shape our community for many years. Pop-Pop's legacy is more than that of a successful businessman ... but that as a family man... with 2 adoring children, 6 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren - and a 7th great grandchild on the way. It's the Rossi's strong bloodline that will keep his memory alive in the Wildwood's for many generations to come...

God knew he had something special in Edward Rossi and made sure he was around for many years. As a young man fighting in Europe during World War II, he was crawling towards the German lines in a fierce battle. Unknown to Pop Pop, a German bullet was headed straight towards his chest, a bullet that would have surely ended his life. But instead of this German's bullet striking his heart, it struck his dog tag hanging from his neck and rickashade to another part of his body, saving his life. Many who paid their last respect to Ed may or may not have noticed the Purple Heart and the bent Dog Tag draped upon his chest. Good fortunes, good luck or divined intervention... what ever it was has allowed us the opportunity to enjoy Ed for an additional 60 years in the Wildwoods. This was one of many adventures that he had shared with me, and one that I wanted to share with those who knew him…

I'm proud to have called Ed "Pop-Pop" Rossi my friend.

May you rest in Peace!