RSS
Home
Local
SEE THE LATEST ON THIS STORY
“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.
A funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. today 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 was 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 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; a 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 lieu of flowers, donations be made to St. Leo’s Church, 227 S. Exeter St., Baltimore.
