Joseph A. DeRosa

ATKINSON, N.H. — Joseph A. DeRosa, 67, of Atkinson, died Saturday evening, Dec. 6, 2008 at the Lahey Clinic in Burlington.

Born and raised in Medford, son of the late John and Angelica (Palermo) DeRosa, he graduated Medford High School and the North Bennett Street School of Boston.

Mr. DeRosa was the founding president and treasurer of DeRosa of Boston, Jewelers, which he established in the Jewelers' Building on Washington Street, Boston, in 1968. He later relocated the business to Plaistow, N.H. in 1980 and operated the company until he sold it at the time of his retirement.

A resident of Dedham for three years before moving to Atkinson in 1975, Mr. DeRosa was a 15 year member of the Board of Selectmen, serving from 1988 until 2003. He had also served on several town boards and as a former member of the Atkinson Fire Department. A member and past president of the Atkinson Lions club, he was also a trustee of the Atkinson Library and a former member of the Rotary Club of Haverhill. He was also a member of St. Anne's Parish of Hampstead and the Maximillian Kolb Council of the Knights of Columbus, Hampstead and St. Jude Council of Plaistow.

Survivors include his wife, Ellen (Moy) DeRosa; two sons, Gregory J. DeRosa and his companion Laura Warren-Kariger of Merrimack, and Jonathan J. DeRosa of Atkinson; a daughter and son-in-law, Christina M. and Mark Hayes of Derry; a brother Nicholas DeRosa of Hampstead; a sister, Angela O'Keeffe of Burlington; three grandchildren, Kathryn DeRosa, Michael DeRosa, and Nadia Hayes and several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by a sister, Emma Hartigan.

ARRANGEMENTS: His funeral will be held on Thursday with a Funeral Liturgy of the Word at 10:30 a.m. in St. Anne's Church, Emerson Avenue, Hampstead. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Fund to Benefit Jonathan DeRosa, c/o Haverhill Bank, 1094 Main St., Haverhill, MA 01830.