Anthony Joseph Rotell
October 29, 1931 – March 29, 2012
Anthony Joseph Rotell passed away at home on Thursday, March 29, 2012. Tony battled long and hard against cancer before passing away, surrounded by his loving family.
Tony, a proud Italian, was born on October 29, 1931 above his family’s grocery store in Farrell, Pennsylvania. He grew up with his large, extended family, nurtured by the delicious cooking of his mom, Elvie. He loved the forest and all the activities it provided. He learned his respect of the forest and his love of hunting in the Allegheny Mountains of Pennsylvania with his favorite hunting companions, his uncle, Pat Mastrian, and his brother, Don.
Tony was a navy corpsman during the Korean War era and cut a fine figure in a sailor suit. He graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a B. S. in Forestry. He headed out west to join the U.S. Forest Service in Oregon, moonlighting as a bar owner/pizza chef along side his mom and dad at the Crows Nest Tavern in Gold Beach, Oregon. In the late 60s Tony moved to Bainbridge Island. He began working for the National Parks Service in Seattle from which he retired in 1983 after 25 years of service . What Tony liked best about his work in the Parks Service was the travel. He loved his road trips visiting the National Parks around the Northwest. Tony was an avid hunter and fisherman and loved heading out to the woods with his family and hunting buddies to enjoy the outdoors and a bit of camaraderie.
In 1977, Tony showed up on the doorstep of his future bride, single mom, Marilyn Usitalo. He just happened to have a pot of pasta in his car. Did she want to try some? Yes, she did. And so did her kids. They never stopped loving Tony’s legendary pasta which was a true art form. Over the years, Marilyn and Tony – an expert body surfer – enjoyed many trips to Hawaii and Australia. Tony was a devoted husband and parent, but most people will remember him for his daily rounds of Winslow with his dog Mojo. He always had a kind-hearted joke to share with his many friends. Of all the things he loved and enjoyed in life, his time with his grandchildren exceed all else. His greatest happiness and laughter came when spending time with them.
Tony is survived by his wife, Marilyn Rotell of Bainbridge Island, children, Chuck Baetz of Indianola, and Krista Jenkins of Adelaide, Australia, their spouses, Sara Baetz and Paul Jenkins, his grandchildren Sophia, Jake, Max and Patrick, his sister-in-law, Denise Rotell and her children Don Rotell and Christa Braun of Boisie Idaho, his step-son Ian Clyde of Bainbridge Island, his brother John Rotell of Spokane Washington and many loving aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. His generosity, kindness, humor and authenticity will be held in close memory.
The memorial service and mass will be held at 11am on Saturday, April 14 at Saint Cecilia Catholic Parish, 1310 Madison Avenue North, Bainbridge Island. The service will be followed by a reception for friends and family. Instead of flowers, donations will be gratefully received by Helpline House: http://helplinehouse.org/donate.shtml.
TRIBUTE Paid Notice
