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Legendary PI attorney Daniel L. Rossi helps feed needy children
Retired plaintiff personal injury attorney Daniel L. Rossi donated $50,000 in 2023 to help feed needy children in Mahoning County. By late January 2024, almost 2,000 boxes of food will have been delivered to seven locations in the county as a result of the gift. Pictured here from the left are Lisa Rossi Fitzpatrick, Dr. Elena Rossi (Somers), Donald Somers, attorney Gregg A. Rossi and attorney Daniel L. Rossi (seated). (Photo courtesy of Dr. Elena Rossi).
Published: January 4, 2024
Raised by immigrant parents on the east side of Youngstown during the Great Depression, Daniel L. Rossi was no stranger to living under tough economic conditions.
One of two children born to August March and Augusta (nee Mastrantonio) Rossi, he would go on to make a name for himself as a top plaintiff personal injury trial attorney in Mahoning County, where he was known as the “dean of trial lawyers,” and start a family with his wife Mary Rossvanes.
The couple had five children, all of whom achieved their own successes, including his son and former law partner Gregg A. Rossi, who now runs Rossi & Rossi Co.
But no matter how successful the elder Rossi became he never forgot his roots, making a point of giving back to the community over the years through service on nonprofit boards and gifts designed to assist low-income residents and make a higher education more accessible.
“When dad was a kid, neighbors fed those without and he always remembered that,” said Gregg.
It’s a lesson he taught his children. In fact, his daughter Dr. Elena M. Rossi (Somers), who recently retired from Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley, said she remembers her father having her deliver food to families in need when she was a young girl.
“Dad has been involved in all types of projects, including those designed to feed the community,” said Elena, who was the hospital’s medical director for special projects through Dec. 15. “However, he has a special place in his heart for children and he wanted to focus on an endeavor that would ensure they had enough to eat.”
With that in mind, the elder Rossi (now retired) donated $50,000 last August to help feed children facing food insecurities in Mahoning County.
The donation was made in honor of his father, August March Rossi, who together with his wife Augusta emigrated from San Vito Romano, Italy. August served in the U.S. Army in World War I and Daniel L. Rossi was in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
In a press release Daniel L. Rossi, now 96, stated, “I have lived my entire life in Youngtown and it has been good to me, and I have the privilege of returning some of my good fortune to the community to help those in need. At one point in my life, I was very poor.”
Elena said her father asked his children to help him find the best way to ensure that the donation would have the greatest impact.
“My former position at Akron Children’s uniquely situated me to help carry out the mission,” said Elena. “I worked with Akron Children’s Hospital Foundation to reach out to community organizations and schools to identify the areas with the greatest need.”
In the end, they came up with seven locations in the county that would receive hundreds of boxes of food, including Alta Head Start; OCCHA (Organizacion Civica y Cultural Hispana Americana) Inc.; Akron Children’s Pediatric Primary Care, Campbell; Eagle’s Christian Preschool & Childcare; Chaney Middle School at the McGuffey campus; Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School and Paul C. Bunn Elementary School.
Several of the locations were chosen to receive more than one delivery.
The boxes are filled with non-perishable items designed to feed those under 18, such as cereal, peanut butter and jelly, canned vegetables and pasta and shelf-stable milk and yogurt.
Rossi family members packed many of the boxes, along with volunteers at Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley, and participated in the food deliveries.
The drop-offs began on Sept. 26, 2023 at Alta Head Start and will conclude in late January 2024 for a total of 12 deliveries and almost 2,000 boxes of food.
In December, OCCHA, Paul C. Bunn and Martin Luther King Jr. elementary schools were given hundreds of boxes.
There will be three deliveries in January, starting on the 9th at the Akron Children’s Campbell site, which will get an additional 50 boxes, after having already received 100 boxes.
Two hundred boxes will be dropped off at Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School on Jan. 11 and 250 will arrive at Chaney Middle School on Jan. 23.
“It’s been great carrying out dad’s wishes as a family project,” said Gregg. “When he was a kid he had very little so he really understands what it’s like to do without.”
“As our father has gotten older, he has been very focused on starting projects that help to fill the void in our community,” said Elena. “The initial goal was to have all the food delivered before the holidays but the school strike made that hard to achieve.”
“Most of the food did make it to the families before the holidays and we will continue the effort into 2024,” said Gregg.