With profound sadness, we mourn the loss of our sister, Rosemarie, 79, our family hero.
Although she was born with spina bifida, an experimental newborn spine fusion surgery in 1940 miraculously extended her life span and quality.
Rosemarie was a Mount Saint Dominic Academy Scholar who, in the face of continued medical needs, completed her GED at home. Rosemarie was hired in the male-dominated electronics field, in a wheelchair, in the late 1950s at Chatham Electronics.
She courageously pursued her quest for independence in a wheelchairable world. Her legal pursuit of public transportation, and for businesses to accept her wheelchairable legs as readily as they accepted those of the non-disabled person, made her a foundational activist for the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) in 1973.
Rosemarie valiantly fielded each medical obstacle while spending more than 40 enjoyable years in Las Vegas, Nevada. She later returned to her Jersey roots, surrounded by the love of her family, her life an exemplary model of heroism in the face of lifelong adversity.
She was predeceased by her parents, Rose and John; her brothers, Charles, Arthur, and baby Frankie; and her nephew, Jack. She is lovingly survived by her siblings, John (Bern), Julie, Patricia, Nick, and Carol (Bob) Scheskowsky; and extended family.
A Memorial Mass is planned to take place in the spring. Contributions in her memory may be made to www.stjude.org.
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