Frederick Walter Rossmann

In Loving Memory of Frederick (Fred) Walter Rossmann – Boom Pop May 12, 1950 – June 14, 2025
Panama City, FL – Fred W. Rossmann (Boom Pop), NOAA Commander Retired, aged 75, was taken into the arms of the Lord on June 14, 2025 he was surrounded by loved ones while in hospice care in Panama City, FL.
Fred was born on May 12, 1950 in Pittsburgh, PA to Frederick G. Rossmann and Eleanor Osthoff Rossmann.
Fred was a cherished husband, parent, sibling, grandparent, friend whose key trait was quite strength along with warmth, humor, generosity. Fred touched the lives of everyone around him by quietly providing an example to live up to. Fred grew up in Pittsburgh, PA and attended the South Hills High School. After graduating high school Fred attended classes at the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) for a quarter. After almost 8 years serving in 2 different branches of the US Military. He returned to Pitt earning a bachelor's degree in civil engineering. Years later Fred earned a Masters of Business Administration from Florida Institute of Technology. Fred was enrolled and attended classes at Pitt prior to enlisting in the U.S. Army. Fred left his college studies to enlist in the U.S. Army. During this enlistment Fred found himself in the Vietnam Conflict and for his participation and valor during this campaign he was awarded the Bronze Star with a "V" device or "Combat V" for providing suppressive fire multiple times. This action allowed his six-man patrol to return safely from their mission after a team member had been wounded. He was also awarded the Army Commendation medal with an oak leaf cluster, 2 bronze stars on his Vietnam Service Medal, National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Air Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, and Expert in Rifle and Pistol. After 4 years in the Army Fred returned home to Pittsburgh. While there he reentered Pitt to further his college studies. After a time in college Fred enlisted in the U.S. Navy for almost 4 years serving a tour onboard the U.S.S. Iwo Jima (LPH2) where he earned the Navy Commendation Medal. After being discharged from the Navy he returned to Pitt for the third time, completing his Bachelors of Science degree, in Civil Engineering. After graduation Fred joined the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as a Commissioned Officer. NOAA took Fred all over the world. He sailed onboard the NOAAS (S222) Mt. Mitchell, and two tours of duty onboard the NOAAS (S132) Surveyor including an Antarctic Cruise. Fred served on the NOAAS (R104) Ronald H. Brown as the Executive Officer, the Construction Project Manager, and was a Plank Owner for the vessels maiden voyage and during a circumnavigation of the Earth. Fred also Commanded the NOAAS (R352) Nancy Foster during a repositioning cruise and several research cruises. In all Fred spent 9.5 years at sea with both the U.S. Navy and NOAA while serving our country. Fred also served with NOAA on numerous shoreside deployments as commander of a hydrographic field party surveying navigable waterways and a geodetic field party. This geodetic field party worked across the US collecting billions of data points which were used to develop the background data for our modern GPS navigation software. Fred also served at the Stennis Space Center as NOAA liaison, and as liaison at the National Science Foundation while stationed at the NOAA Headquarters in Silver Spring, MD. Fred was awarded the Dept. of Commerce Silver Medal as well as numerous other unit service citations and ribbons detailing a long and distinguished career. Commander (O5) Fredrick Walter Rossmann retired from Uniformed Service as a NOAA Commissioned Officer May 31, 2007 at Silver Spring, MD after almost 34 years of distinguished service. After retirement Fred embarked on hiking the northern half of the Appalachian Trail from Virginia to Maine, a venture of 5 months, he later started the southern half from Georgia and made it to Tennessee before injuries prevented him from completing the entire trail. He also loved to travel with family, fish, play golf and spend quality time with family. Fred was a man of few words but his presence and actions spoke volumes as a husband, father and leader of our family.
Fred is survived by his wife of 40 years Carolyn Rossmann; his son Sonny Vincent and his wife Jeanne; his grandson Ethan Vincent; his companion Shadow; his brother Robert Rossmann and his wife Diana; His sister Carol Greb and her husband Rich; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law as well as a host of nieces, nephews, and grandniece and grandnephews. Fred was preceded in death by his parents Frederick G. Rossmann and his mother Eleanor O. Rossmann; and his granddaughter Caitlyn Vincent. Fred leaves behind a legacy of service to his country in times of war and times of peace. A life of honor and loyalty to his family and friends. Fred Loved the Lord and Found a church to participate in everywhere he lived. Is presence will be greatly missed.
A celebration of the life of Commander Frederick W. Rossmann (Retired) will be held at Kent Forest Lawn Funeral Home in Panama City, FL on July 01, 2025 at 1000 hrs. Interment will follow at Kent Forest Lawn's cemetery. Visitation is scheduled at 1000 with celebration at 1100.
Honorary Pallbearers for Fred's service will be; Herman Daniels, Mike Odom, and Carl Andrews, Gary Alexander, Brad Tilghman, and Jason Andrews.
In lieu of flowers the family kindly requests that donations be made to a Church of your choosing.
For condolences or inquiries, please contact Sonny or Jeanne Vincent at jenn.vincent08@gmail.com or text 850.832.1481 To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Frederick Walter Rossmann, please visit our floral store.
Cemetery Forest Lawn Memorial Cemetery 2403 Harrison Avenue Panama City, FL 32405