Vasile Rosca

If you ever needed something fixed, a tire changed, your garden beautified, or a broken heart mended, Vasile Rosca was your guy. Born on March 3, 1949, in Romania, Vasile lived a life full of resilience, grit, and strength. He was always working on something, always moving, and always helping. He brought that same spirit to New Jersey, where he raised his family, and later to Florida, where he became the beach-loving grandpa with the brightest Christmas lights in the neighborhood.

In his younger years, Vasile served proudly as a paratrooper in the Romanian military and loved to talk about the thrill of jumping out of planes, something he remembered fondly.

A true soccer fanatic, Vasile cheered loudly for Romania and later became a huge fan of Lionel Messi. He was passionate about the game-so much so that during the 1994 World Cup, he managed to teach his youngest a handful of very memorable Romanian curse words.

Vasile was often mistaken for a man of few words, but anyone who asked him about his life, needed advice, or showed interest in gardening quickly found out he had plenty to say and shared it all with warmth, humor, and a quiet kind of wisdom. He also had a signature look; no one wore a plaid button-down or an Adidas tracksuit quite like he did.

He was always laughing, dancing, and made magic happen around the holidays. He loved Christmas and transformed his house each year into a glowing winter wonderland, just to see the wonder in his grandkids' eyes. He loved his garden almost as much as he loved sharing its fruits, vegetables, and flowers. He will be warmly remembered for the surprise bouquets he'd bring, just because.

He was strong, too, miraculously surviving a life-threatening ruptured aneurysm and working tirelessly to regain a full, active life. Nothing kept him down for long. He seemed invincible.

Vasile turned neighbors into friends, grandkids into giggling bundles of joy, and every ping pong game into a fierce but fun competition. And every win came with a celebratory tuica.

Vasile was preceded in death by his parents, Didina and Nicolae, and his brother, Mircea.

He is survived by his beloved wife and lifelong best friend, Carmen; his daughter Ruxandra and her husband Robbie, along with their children Calin, Nicolae, and Madalina; his son Razvan and wife Kristen, and their son Reid; and his daughter Manuela, husband Zach, and grandsons Alexander and Nathaniel.

His legacy is one of laughter, love, determination, and the kind of joy that lives on in every story told around the Christmas tree, every goal cheered from the couch, and every flower growing in the garden.

As for his children-

His son, Razvan, will always be in awe of the man who left everything behind to start a new life of freedom in a new country with just $50 in his pocket, two young kids, and a pregnant wife.

His daughter, Manuela, says he will be remembered for spending their last remaining dollars on a stuffed panda bear for her after noticing she was playing "dolls" with an empty Pepsi bottle wrapped in a blanket.

And Ruxandra, the self-declared favorite, shares that a piece of her heart will be forever broken. He was her best friend, secret-keeper, favorite shopping buddy, and the person she relied on most. Her gratitude for him far exceeds the depth of the oceans. He was a constant presence and a (mostly) quiet strength in her life.

He will be so fiercely missed.