Rosie Brest, 93, Owner of Rosie's Pizza Palace / Sports Hall Of Fame Enshrinee

She was born in Bellevue, Ohio on November 30, 1913. As a youth she attended Immaculate Conception Parochial School in Bellevue and went on to attend the Bellevue Public Schools following her graduation from Immaculate Conception.

Athletics influenced Rosie’s life at a very young age as she and her siblings constructed a boxing ring in their backyard; the ring was used to sharpen their pugilistic skills as well as to settle minor differences of opinions.

In 1941 she came to Lorain and began working at the National Tube Company (predecessor to United States Steel Corporation) during both World War II and the Korean Conflict. She was simultaneously employed by the former Italian Mutual Club of Lorain.

In 1954 she began her career in the pizza industry that has spanned more than a half century. Originally employed from 1954 to 1958 by the Pizza House in downtown Lorain, Ms. Brest founded Rosie’s Pizza Palace in 1958; at that time the store was located at the intersection of Lear Nagel and Detroit Roads in Avon. In 1961 Rosie returned to Lorain and established her business at the corner of West 9th Street and Broadway Avenue. She later moved the shop to its present location at 3113 Broadway Avenue.

Reflecting on her love of sports, Rosie and her business enterprise became a mainstay of Lorain amateur athletics. She sponsored and supported countless teams in flag football, touch football, fast and slow pitch softball, and CYO basketball. Since the early 1950’s she also sponsored teams in the Lorain Little League and its successor – the Lorain Youth Baseball Program as well as supporting both youth and adult golf teams, and league sponsorship of men’s and women’s bowling throughout the city. For many years she also sponsored the youth bowling programs at both Shoreway Lanes in Sheffield Lake and the former Broadway Lanes in Lorain.

Rosie was quite an accomplished bowler in her own right, and was inducted into the Bowing Hall of Fame of the U.S.B.C. Lorain Women’s Bowling Association for her accomplishments and contributions to the sport. From 1982 to 1997 she was a member of the L.W.B.A. Advisory Board and had served as a delegate at many national bowling tournaments; since 1977 she has been absent from only one national tournament event.

A parishioner of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Lorain, she was inducted into the Lorain Sports Hall of Fame during enshrinement ceremonies conducted in 1985.

She was an ardent fan of the Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Indians, and Cleveland Cavaliers sports teams. In addition to her passion for sports, Rosie enjoyed travel, photography, and reading with a special interest in old west novels authored by Zane Gray.

Survivors include her son David M. Brest residing in Columbia City, Indiana, daughters Mary J. Carek of Amherst Township, Dorothy J. Ryan and Dolores J. Poli both of Lorain, seven grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, and seven step great grandchildren, sisters Carmen “Nellie” Brown of Fremont, Ohio, Josephine LaGrass of Sandusky, and brother Carl Santoro residing in Utah.

She was preceded in death by her parents Anthony and Mary (nee Barbera) Santoro, by sisters Theresa Pelamati and Sarah Profeta, and by brothers Russell, Charles, Frank, and Tony.

Visitation will be Thursday, June 21, 2007, from 7-9 p.m. and Friday from 3-9 p.m. in the Gluvna-Shimo-Hromada Funeral Chapel – 3224 Broadway Avenue – Lorain. A memorial service will be conducted by officers and members of the Lorain Sports Hall of Fame Friday at 7:00 p.m.in the funeral chapel. Funeral services will be Saturday beginning with closing prayers offered at 9:30 a.m. in the funeral chapel and will be followed by the celebration of her funeral mass at 10:00 a.m. in Holy Trinity Catholic Church – 2428 Elyria Avenue – Lorain. The Reverend David A. Novak, Pastor of Holy Trinity Parish will officiate. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery – Lorain.

The family encourages memorial contributions to Community Health Partners Regional Foundation / New Life Hospice – 3700 Kolbe Road – Lorain, OH 44053.