Andrew Joseph Roscoe, Sr., age 74 years, of Raritan Township, NJ, died peacefully on Friday, July 26, 2019 at the Hunterdon Care Center, Flemington, NJ, surrounded by his loving wife and family.
Born at Muhlenberg Hospital in Plainfield, NJ, January 24, 1945, son of the late John and Jane Wagner Roscoe, Andy was raised in Plainfield and had formerly lived many years in Ridgewood, NJ, moving to Raritan Township ten years ago.
For over thirty-eight years Andy served as the Resident Manager of Oak Manor Apartments in Ridgewood, NJ. He was known by all the residents to be a man of compassion and integrity. He was also known to be able to fix anything that needed fixing at the complex and was a true “jack of all trades”.
Though a very dedicated and hard worker, Andy would most want to be remembered for being a true family man. A man who was proud of his kids and grandkids, and who lived to help make their lives easier.
His family came to be with a chance meeting at a neighborhood bar in Plainfield, when an underage Ms. Barbara Benikosky stopped by and the lightning bolt of love hit both Andy and Barbara’s hearts. They would marry on December 2, 1967 at Wilson Memorial Presbyterian Church in Watchung, NJ and have two children: a daughter, Dawn, and a son, Andrew. He instilled in his children the mantra of, “Never Give Up” and was always their biggest supporter.
Andy had a passion for car racing, and was well-known for driving car #65 at the speedways in Flemington, NJ and Middletown, NY. He was also known for his mechanical ability and being able to fix the race cars so they would live up to their maximum potential. Many happy family times were spent at the racetrack as racing was truly a family affair.
World renowned driver Dale Earnhardt once said, “The winner ain’t the one with the fastest car; it’s the one who refuses to lose.” He also said, “Finishing races is important, but racing is more important.” Andy certainly raced this thing called ‘life’ with humor, compassion and love. Every turn provided a new adventure and every straightaway gave an opportunity to try harder and to never give up. He lived simply and his life was successful because he and Barbara had the best fuel in the world: love. A legacy that everyone should surely replicate.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by several brothers and sisters.
Surviving are his cherished wife, Barbara J. Benikosky Roscoe; his children and their spouses, Dawn and Kevin Pyatt, and Andrew Joseph Roscoe, Jr. and Monica Roscoe; two brothers and their wives, Richard and Sandy Roscoe, and Raymond and Connie Roscoe; a sister-in-law, Priscilla Zanitzer; his grandchildren, Shelby, Alyson and Andrew III; several nieces, nephews and extended family; and many dear friends.
Cremation was private at Ewing Crematory, Ewing Township, NJ, under the direct care and supervision of the Wright & Ford Licensed Care Team Family.
A gathering of family and friends will take place on Sunday, August 25, 2019 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ.
A celebration of Andy’s life will take place beginning at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, following the visitation, and to which all are welcome.
Please visit Andy’s permanent memorial site at www.wrightfamily.com where one can light a memorial candle and leave a message of condolence and words of comfort, as well as share stories and photographs of his life.
Memorial contributions in Andy’s honor made be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
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Wright & Ford, your local, family owned & operated “Life Celebration Home”