Franklin Roosevelt D'Alesandro may have grown up the son of a Baltimore City mayor, but it didn't affect his neighborhood friend.

"He was an average kid. He never let being the mayor's son go to his head," said Charlie Ferraro, of Eastern Avenue, on Thursday, the day after his friend died at the age of 73.

"Roosie used to play sandlot football with us behind the pumping station."

D'Alesandro spent his last days at Gilchrist Center for Hospice Care in Baltimore City, where he died of cancer.

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A funeral Mass will be at 11 this morning at St. Leo's Roman Catholic Church on Exeter Street, the church where he was an altar boy in his youth.

The family name D'Alesandro brings politics to the minds of many city residents. D'Alesandro's sister is Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and congresswoman from San Francisco. His father was Baltimore City Mayor Thomas D'Alesandro Jr., and his brother Baltimore City Mayor Thomas D'Alesandro III.

"Roosie died as he had lived, surrounded by his family, loved by his friends, grateful for God's blessings on his life, and prepared to meet our parents and brothers in Heaven," Pelosi said in a statement.

For the Baltimoreans making ravioli Thursday in the basement of a St. Leo's Church School in Little Italy, the son and brother of a powerful political family wasn't being remembered. It was D'Alesandro the friend and neighbor.

"We called him Roosie, short for Roosevelt," Lucy Pompa said while spooning ricotta cheese in fresh dough.
Among the survivors are his wife, the former Mary Ann Jankowski, two daughters, Rose Ann D'Alesandro of Baltimore and Deborah Ignatowski of Lutherville; brother, Nicholas D'Alesandro of Baltimore; and two granddaughters. Three brothers are deceased.

Friends may call from 3 to 9 p.m. at the Ruck Funeral Home after the Mass. The family asks that in leu of flowers donations be made to St. Leo's Church, 227 S. Exeter St., Baltimore.

gsmith@baltimoreexaminer.com