JOYCE E. ROSINSKI

CASTINE – Joyce E. Rosinski, 74, died on Dec. 9, 2003, of Alzheimer’s Disease at the Island Nursing Home in Deer Isle. Joyce was born June 15, 1929, at home in Lansing, Mich. She was delivered by her father, Dr Raymond Pinkham. Joyce graduated salutatorian of her senior class from J. W. Sexton High School in Lansing, Mich. She earned a B.A. in Sociology and English from Denison University in 1951, and an M.A in Speech Pathology from the University of Iowa in 1970. Joyce was one of the first graduates of the Speech Pathology Program at the University of Iowa. Joyce was employed as a speech clinician in the school systems of West Branch, Iowa, and in Fairfield, Bucksport, and Castine. During her career, she helped many children with hearing impairments, autism, mental handicaps and other communication problems. In her “Grandmother’s Book,” Joyce lists marrying her husband (Martin Rosinski) on June 16, 1951, as the happiest moment of her life. They were married for 37 years until his death in 1988. In addition to family and career, Joyce’s passions in life were her animals, music and being outdoors. Her father trained Tennessee Walking Horses and he taught her to ride at age five. The family Welsh corgis were her constant companions. Joyce began playing the flute in high school and continued throughout her life. She was a member of the Bangor Symphony Orchestra during the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. In her later years, she often played her flute during Sunday services at the Unitarian Church in Castine. Joyce enjoyed being outdoors, particularly on the water, where she could be with the loons and other wildlife. Canoeing and sailing brought her tremendous joy, on the Bagaduce River from her home in Castine and at her camp on Green Lake in Ellsworth. Joyce was stricken with Alzheimer’s Disease at age 65. She struggled valiantly for several years to maintain a normal life. She continued to play her flute and to take daily walks to the river until the disease robbed her of these pleasures. During her retirement, Joyce enjoyed the companionship of Robert Dick of Castine. Bob remained steadfast during her illness, assisting her while she lived at home, and visiting her daily when she lived at the Island Nursing Home. Joyce is survived by her three children, Carol Rosinski and her husband, Bruce Thulin, of Ellsworth, Jane Rosinski and her husband, Gordon Russell, of Holden, and Jim Rosinski of Boulder, Colo.; her sister, Bee Vary of Lansing, Mich.; and brother, Raymond Pinkham of Kalamazoo, Mich.; and three grandchildren, Andrya Russell, Carl Russell and Holly Thulin. A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21, 2003, at the Unitarian Church, Court Street, Castine. Contributions in her memory may be made to Fields Pond Audubon Center, 216 Fields Pond Road, Holden, ME 04429, or the Alzheimer’s Association of Maine, 163 Lancaster St., Suite 160, Portland, ME 04101-2406.