Jose Rosado, Shop Chairman at the Union Club and Local 6 Assembly Delegate

We are deeply saddened by the loss of Jose Rosado, a retired shop chairman at the Union Club and a Local 6 Assembly Delegate. Jose passed away on April 17, at the age of 71. He worked at the Union Club for over two decades as a cook, and was first a union delegate, before being appointed to shop chairman. He will be remembered by all who knew him as a loving husband and father, a fearless leader, and a friendly, kind, and funny person.

Retired Local 6 Vice President Rolando Ruiz remembers Jose as a remarkable shop chairman and a fierce defender of the Union contract. “He did everything for the Union,” Ruiz remarked. “He was strong on the contract and didn’t give management any leeway. As shop chairman, he kept the club under control while managing to get along with everybody. Most memorably, Jose pushed forward an arbitration case related to management ending regularly scheduled overtime without proper notice, and the case ended up as a big victory. Countless members benefitted from the precedent of that arbitration decision. Even after he retired, I would run into him outside the Union office, and each time he had a big smile on his face and he would give me an even bigger hug.”

“We all loved Jose very much,” said Cook Herminio Collado,“ For me, Jose was not only a co-worker, he was more like a brother. We trusted and confided in each other, and we kept in touch after he retired. At work he always resolved issues. He was also a very funny guy. He would invite me over to his house and we always had good times together. May he rest in peace.”

Jose made an impression on all those he met, including staff in the Health Centers and at the Union office. Assistant Medical Director at the Midtown Health Center, Dr. Ashok D’Souza, fondly remembers Jose as one of his very first patients. “He had a remarkable and towering personality, and was a very vocal member who had an opinion about everything,” recalled Dr. D’Souza. “Come rain or shine, Jose was always on time, at the crack of dawn waiting for all his appointments. I clearly remember how he would always welcome me. He would have two coffees in hand, one for him and the other for me, ready to greet me as I walked down 9th Avenue after my rounds. He would be cheerfully chatting away in the bodega next door to the health center, telling everyone how proud he was of the Union and the health care he received, and he would brag about our staff and doctors endlessly. I remember him saying that ‘his health care was better than attaining Nirvana. Once you lose it, you will know how bad it is out there!’”

Dr. D’Souza also recalled that Jose was more concerned about the health of his colleagues at the Union Club than his own health. “He had such admiration and respect for everyone at work. He always spoke of everyone positively and with a happy disposition. After he retired, Jose slowed down because of health issues, but he was still the same Jose - always smiling, with a happy heart and a very generous soul.”

“Over the years I got to know Jose as a friend. Jose spoke fondly about his darling wife Peggy, and his daughters Inez and Felisa. He celebrated every milestone, from his wife’s birthday to his daughter's wedding and baby shower, and Jose wanted me there for each. I had the pleasure to know Jose both as his doctor as well as his friend. His model of kindness was one of lending others his strength. He lead an exemplary life as a wonderful human being. He was light-hearted and merry as he battled to the very end. His incredible work ethic, resilience, tireless commitment to helping those in need, and devotion to his family were always top priority for him.”

Jose’s daughter, Inez, remembers him as a dedicated and loving father, who spent his time being there for his family, and helping his fellow Union members when they needed him.

“He enjoyed negotiating contracts and was always on the phone, or meeting someone before work hours to discuss a problem,” she said. “He saved many employees’ jobs by negotiating solutions with management, such as requiring employees to attend addiction rehabilitation classes. He basically believed in always giving someone a second chance,” she recalled.

Inez explained that her father was devoted to caring for his other daughter Felisa, who is disabled, after her mother (also a member of Local 6 and worked at the Brook Club) passed away in 2008. “He cooked every meal for Felisa, and took care of her daily needs, making sure she was always happy,” she said.

“The happiest moment I remember as a child was seeing him come to a holiday show I had at school. I think I was about ten years old. I played “jingle bells” on the piano. This was the first show my mother wasn’t able to attend because she was working, and so I had my father’s support. He was so proud of me that he was giving me a standing ovation as soon as I started playing!”

"I will remember him for his love of people, and his advocacy for others. Until the week before he died he was making calls to help a neighbor with a problem. He would make friends with strangers, and spoke to everyone he encountered. He could never sit still, or be quiet. He was quite a talker. He had to always be doing something to occupy his time.”

“He was meticulous and always dressed to the nines, and he always smelled amazing because he collected colognes and could never have enough. Whatever he did, he did his best, a value that he instilled in me. He lived a full life and he will be missed.”

Jose has is survived by his two daughters Felisa and Inez, son-in-law Luigi, and two grandchildren Ava and Joseph.