Rosemary D'Alessandro

1932 - 2024

Rosemary D'Alessandro
03/12/1932 - 10/09/2024
Rosemary D'Alessandro, a cherished friend, dedicated employee, and loving caretaker of pets, passed away peacefully on October 9, 2024, at the age of 92 in San Francisco, CA, from heart disease.
Rosemary was a quintessential San Franciscan, arriving in the city with little more than her determination to thrive. She went on to cultivate a rich life filled with warmth, adventure, and a vibrant circle of friends who adored her.
Born on March 12, 1932, in Washington, Pennsylvania, Rosemary left home at the age of 16 to pursue her dreams in Washington, D.C. There, she dabbled in retail jobs while eagerly awaiting her 18th birthday so she could join the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in 1950. Over her 12 years at "the bureau," as she called it, she served as a researcher in Washington, D.C., New York City, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Rosemary's heart was captivated by San Francisco during several visits in the late 1950s, inspiring her decision to move there. In 1962, accompanied by a friend, she embarked on an adventurous road trip in a gleaming red and white 1957 Chevrolet, driving from Washington through the southern U.S. and on to Mexico City before turning north and arriving in the Bay Area a month later.
In 1962, the Sunset Towers apartments (twin towers near the UCSF hospital) were brand new and eager for new tenants. With a $50 deposit and a promise to pay rent as soon as she was employed, Rosemary moved into her first-floor, one-bedroom apartment, where she lived for the following sixty-two years.
Her working life in San Francisco led her through various administrative roles, culminating in a rewarding 27-year career in the finance department at Levi Strauss & Co., from which she retired in 1997.
In retirement, Rosemary stayed busy, filling her life with travel and fitness, while primarily focusing on nurturing her wide array of friendships throughout the Bay Area.
An avid tennis player and walker, she embraced an active lifestyle, often seen on her long walks through Golden Gate Park or along Ocean Beach. Even at age 92, she maintained her weekly gym routine, inspiring those around her with her vitality. For five years, Rosemary volunteered at a hospital oncology department, drawing on her own experience surviving colon cancer, which allowed her to deeply connect with patients going through their own diagnoses.
A familiar sight driving around town in her meticulously maintained, dark green, 27-year-old Nissan Maxima, Rosemary brought warmth and laughter (along with her trademark box of cookies or candy) wherever she went. She was an active parishioner at St. Agnes Catholic Church for many years and loved attending midnight mass at St. Ignatius every Christmas Eve. Friends always appreciated an invitation to her apartment for a cozy Christmas dinner each year.
She famously organized a big, noisy table for the annual Boy Scouts' Crab & Pasta feed at the Buddhist Church of San Francisco. She was also a trusted and loving dog sitter, forming lasting bonds with countless furry friends and their grateful owners.
Rosemary's legacy is one of kindness, adventure, laughter, and determination. She touched the lives of many, leaving behind a world that is brighter for having known her. Her feisty, joyful spirit will continue to live on in the hearts of those she loved and who loved her in return.
In honor of her love for animals, donations in her name to your local animal shelter or Humane Society are appreciated.