Leonard “Lenny” M. DeRosa

            PEABODY—Leonard M. “Lenny” DeRosa, 67, beloved husband of Joann (Vigliotti) DeRosa of Peabody, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday May 9, 2013 at the Melrose-Wakefield Hospital.

            Born in Monroe, MI, he was the son of the late Albert and Rosa (Yamitch) DeRosa.  He grew up in Miami Springs, FL and graduated from Hialeah High School.  He then graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in New Haven, CT in 1967.

            Mr. DeRosa’s restaurant experience included some of the finest food service establishments all over the world, employed with Waldorf Astoria in New York and the Hilton of London, England.   During his tenure with the Hilton Corporation, he obtained his European Certification and was a member of the culinary team tha won the “Grand Saloon” Award two years in a row at the National Restaurant Show at McCormick Place in Chicago.  Upon leaving the Hilton he was recruited by the Marriott Corporation where he traveled throughout the US, with stops at St. Louis, Atlanta and Philadelphia as part of a task force to open new Marriott Hotels.  He was later recruited to run the Hilltop Steakhouse in Saugus where he continued to tirelessly work seven days a week doing what he loved best.  DeRosa has been praised for his commitment to the Food Service Industry and the Massachusetts Restaurant Association as a whole.

            He was proudly inducted into the Massachusetts Restaurant Association “Hall of Fame” on November 18, 2002 and is an Honorary Life Member of the M.R.A. where he previously served as a Vice President of the organization.

            Lenny adored spending time with his family and friends, and enjoyed cooking on the grill, fishing, football and the observation of birds and other wildlife.  Lenny will be greatly missed by his family, friends, colleagues, canine companions Zoe and Tiffany, and the Greater Peabody and Saugus communities.

            He is survived by his wife Joann (Vigliotti) DeRosa of Peabody, with whom he shared 42 years of marriage;  two sons, Russell & his wife Alex DeRosa, and a grandson Andrew Leonard DeRosa all of Peabody, and Damon & his wife Francesca DeRosa and a grandson Dario Anthony DeRosa all of Burlington;  three brothers, Albert & his wife Rose DeRosa of Naples, FL, Donald DeRosa of Avery, TX, and Andrew DeRosa of UT;  two sisters Carol Lee Meeks & her husband Bob of Merritt Island, FL and Nancy DeRosa of Union, CT, and several nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death, besides his parents, by a sister Shirley Proctor of Wendell, NC.