Gerard "Jerry" William Rosekrans - Obituary

erard (Jerry) William Rosekrans of Lansdowne, Maryland passed away at home on July 19, 2026, following a long journey with a rare cancer, just days before his 78th birthday. Jerry was born on July 27, 1948, in Catskill, New York, the sixth child of Grace (Keenan) and Robert Rosekrans. He lived in the Bronx, New York until he was 16. He often spoke of playing in the park with his siblings, chasing subway trains, playing ice hockey, and serving proudly as an altar boy at St. Brendan Catholic Church, where he also attended school. In 1964, his family moved to Bowie, Maryland, and Jerry graduated from DuVal High School in 1966. After high school, he enlisted in the United States Air Force, where he served proudly until receiving an honorable discharge. After his military service, Jerry worked alongside his father at the AFL-CIO in Washington, D.C., and as a substitute physical educator for Prince George's County Public Schools. He later graduated from the Columbia School of Broadcasting and, under the on-air name Jerry Ross, worked behind the microphone in Annapolis as a radio News Anchor for WYRE (810 AM) and News Director for 1430 WNAV. In the 1980s, he brought his voice and personality to Davis Deejays, where he spent 30 years DJing and emceeing hundreds of wedding receptions, bar and bat mitzvahs, and special events before retiring. He was known throughout the Baltimore-Washington region for his warmth, skill, and personalized touches that made every event unique to the people celebrating. For more than 60 years, Jerry was an active member of St. Pius X Catholic Church in Bowie, serving as lector, usher, CCD teacher, lay eucharistic minister, warm nights volunteer, and much more. He is preceded in death by his parents, beloved siblings Grace, Peter, Geraldine, Paula, Robert, and Rita, niece Christy, nephew Scott, and best friend Brian McNiff. He is survived by his daughters, Julie (Hannah) Rosekrans of Gambrills and Mary Rosekrans (Sarah Pasquarelli) of Baltimore; his grandson, Benjamin Dupree of Gambrills; his brother, Anthony Rosekrans; and many loving nieces, nephews and their children and grandchildren. Jerry treasured his dear friends and always kept up with their lives. He was known for remembering even the smallest details about what they and the people they love were up to. He will be remembered for his deep Catholic faith, quirky sense of humor, endearing charm, creativity, love of live music and theater, and dedication to AM News radio and the Bowie Baysox. A funeral mass will be held at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Bowie, MD on July 29th at 12:15 PM with a reception to follow. A private burial will follow at a later date at the Maryland Veterans Cemetery in Crownsville. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to support the Maryland Proton Treatment Center's Radiation Oncology Virtual Needs Pantry via www.ummsfoundation.org/give or to St. Pius X Catholic Church via spxbowie.org.