1932 – 2016

SUMMERFIELD, Fla. — Rosario Louis (Rozzi) Poto, 84, of Summerfield, Fla., passed away Friday, April 29.

He was born in East Boston, Mass., on Feb. 28, 1932, to Louis and Santa (LaRosa) Poto. He received his high school GED. Rosario served in the U.S. Coast Guard from 1949 to 1952. On June 6, 1950, he married the former Constance F. Maguire. They were married for 49 years, until her death on Dec. 27, 1998.

Rosario worked for the Auburn Fire Department from 1949 until his retirement in 1977. He retired at the rank of captain and served as acting deputy chief during some of the biggest fires of his tenure. Rosario was photographed during his first active fire carrying a young girl from the fire at 317 Main St. That photo was published on the cover of Life magazine.

He was active in the Local Fire Fighter’s Union, serving on the negotiating and grievance committee. After retiring from the Auburn Fire Department, he went to work for the U.S. Postal Service in Lewiston.

Rosario enjoyed amateur radio. His original call sign was WB1DXM and when he received his amateur extra class license he changed his call sign to KE1M. He also enjoyed computers.

He is survived by his daughter, Patricia G. Kordalski and husband, David, of Summerfield, Fla.; sons, Thomas A. Poto and wife, Vickie, of Lewiston, and Michael A. Poto and wife, Susan, of Greene; grandchildren, Brent Rand, Emily (Rand) Krams, Heidi Rand, Chad Kordalski, Evan Kordalski, Abigail (Poto) Casper, Megan Poto, Noah Poto, Jessica Poto and Matthew Poto; and great-grandchildren, Annabelle Rand, Amelia Krams, Johnathan Poto and Abigail Casper.

Rosario is predeceased by his wife, Constance (1998); infant daughter, Janet Lee (1954); and daughter, Penny Poto Powell (2015).