Dennis Rossi

By MARLY REICHERT Staff writer

WARREN — Dennis Rossi is a Warren native through and through.

He attended Blessed Sacrament grade school and graduated from Warren JFK High School in 1972. After graduating from the University of Dayton, he returned to the city and entered the family business, Rossi Insurance Agency, which was founded nearly a century ago in 1924.

And because the community has supported the business for nearly 100 years, Rossi gives back to the community through his involvement in various nonprofit organizations.

It is because of this involvement that Rossi was named one of this year’s Community Stars. The program, co-sponsored by the Tribume Chronicle and Trumbull 100, recognizes the brightest examples of community service and the people who do those good deeds.

“I love helping people. I was born and raised in Warren, and the city and Trumbull County have been good to the Rossi family, so it is fitting for me to give back,” Rossi said. “My dad was involved in community service, so

I guess the apple does not fall far from the tree.”

Rossi has been an executive board member of Trumbull Family Fitness, formerly the YMCA in downtown Warren, for 15 years.

“My uncle bought me my first membership when I was in fifth grade, so I owe a lot to that organization,” Rossi said.

He has been a trustee for the Warren Sports Hall of Fame for more than 20 years. He and his father also were inductees.

“I was always involved in sports, and my dad and I supported the sports programs at all three high schools (JFK, Western Reserve and Warren G. Harding). I know how much it means to be an inductee, and for me to be able to have a part in inducting someone else is priceless,” he said.

Rossi also is president of the W.D. Packard Board of Trustees and has been on the board since 2016. He also is the liaison between the board of trustees and the W.D. Packard Foundation Board, which he said is a “very young and energetic board.”

Six months ago, he was named chairman of the advisory board for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul-Northeast Ohio District Council. “When I leave the soup kitchen or the thrift store, it makes my day knowing I have helped those less fortunate,” Rossi said.

He said he was surprised he was chosen as a Community Star, but was not surprised he was nominated by his son, Marc. “He has been volunteering his time for what seems like my entire life,” Marc Rossi said.

“But he has always been siting in the background because he doesn’t like the limelight, so I thought it was important for him to get the recognition so the community sees how much he does.” mreichert@tribtoday.com

He said his father always says how good the community has been to the family, so he shows his appreciation by giving back.

“He finds great fulfillment doing all this volunteer work. He sees all walks of life and it makes him feel good to give back,” Marc said.

And true to form, Dennis Rossi said he was humbled by the nomination and being chosen.

“I don’t know that I am deserving, but I appreci ate the honor,” he said.