August 3, 1982 – June 25, 2022
We remember and honor Cpl. Michael A. Rossi III, Born on August 3, 1982, in Hartford, CT, Mike was a dedicated son to Michael A. Rossi and Anne M. (Mortell) Rossi. As a lifelong resident of Suffield, CT, Mike left an indelible mark on his community and country.
Mike graduated from Suffield High School in the Class of 2000, where he, along with his friends John Fleming and John O’Brien, played a crucial role in establishing the Wrestling Program. His early years were filled with involvement in the Boy Scouts, Indian Guides, and the Civil Air Patrol, showcasing his commitment to service from a young age. He furthered his education at Georgia Southern University and Central Connecticut University.
In 2000, Mike answered the call to serve his country, joining the United States Marine Corps. He served with distinction until 2004, participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and the Stabilization Mission in Haiti as part of the 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Weapons Company, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force based at Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Following his military service, Mike dedicated 14 years of his life to the Connecticut Department of Corrections as a Correctional Officer at the MacDougal Walker Correctional Institution in Suffield. He was also a valued member of the Department of Corrections Special Operations Group (SOG), where his leadership and courage continued to shine.
Mike’s legacy extends beyond his professional achievements. He is survived by his beloved son, Michael A. Rossi IV; his sister, Tamara L. Rossi Santos, and her husband Jason of South Carolina; as well as his nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, fiancée Katie McClellan, and many friends. Mike was predeceased by his brother and best friend, Christopher Rossi (2020), and his grandparents, Emma & Thomas Mortell and Michael & Concetta Rossi.
Family, friends, and community members gathered to pay their respects during the calling hours on July 1, 2022, at Browne Memorial Chapels in Enfield. A Mass of Christian Burial was held on July 2, 2022, at Sacred Heart Church in Suffield, followed by military honors, commemorating Mike’s steadfast service to his nation.
Mike’s memory lives on through the countless lives he touched. In honor of his service and dedication, memorial donations can be made to the CPL Stephen Bixler Memorial Fund, c/o Peoples Bank, 30 Bridge St., Suffield, CT 06078.
**Semper Fi**
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I am not a veteran. I am a member of the Civil Air Patrol, the United States Air Force Auxiliary. But in 1991, personal loss brought me to a place I never left.
Over two decades later, that loss led me to the State Veterans Cemetery in Middletown, Connecticut, where I took on the coordination of Wreaths Across America — which grew into the largest and fastest growing veterans program in the state. I didn’t do it for recognition. I did it for them.
In 2016 I founded the Connecticut Veterans Bulletin. Not because I served, but because I believe those who did deserve to be honored, connected, and kept alive.
Twenty-two veterans die by suicide every day. I knew about that number before it became a hashtag. I knew it personally, long before anyone was talking about it.
This publication exists because that number is unacceptable. Because every veteran in Connecticut deserves to know someone gives a damn.
That someone is me.
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