In Memoriam: William J. Rossman

Bill Rossman

William J. “Bill” Rossman, of Hollidaysburg, formerly of Altoona, passed away Jan. 17, 2017, at Garvey Manor Nursing Home in Hollidaysburg.

He was born in Altoona, son of the late John and Katherine (Morgan) Rossman. He married his high school sweetheart, Judith “Judy” Arthur Oct. 2, 1962.

Surviving are his wife of fifty-four years; a son, William M. Rossman of Gainsville, Virginia.; two granddaughters: Alex Philomeno and husband, Justin, of Del Ray Beach, Florida, and Kenyth Rossman of Herndon, Virginia; two great-grandsons, Jaxin and Jagger Philomeno; a brother-in-law, Ronald Arthur and wife, Karen; and two sisters-in-law, Diane Rossman and Margaret Arthur.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Edward M. Rossman; a brother-in-law, the Rev. Kenneth Arthur; and a niece, Nichole Rossman.

After graduating in 1959 from Altoona Area High School, Bill enlisted in the U.S. Army National Guard. He was a graduate of the Center for Management Potential Assessment; Bank Administration Institute; Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business Executive Program; National ABA Commercial Loan School of the University of Oklahoma; and Dunn and Bradstreet Concentrated Banking Program; and he completed twenty courses at the American Institution of Banking.

In 1964, he entered the banking profession as a teller for Mid-State Bank and was eventually named president and CEO of Mid-State Bank in 1985. He went on to become president of Keystone Financial Bank in 1999 and regional president of M&T Bank in 2000.

Bill’s commitment to his community and the banking industry led to his service on the boards of numerous professional, charitable and nonprofit organizations, including Home Nursing Agency, Pennsylvania Bankers Association, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Blair County, and Robert Morris Associates, where he served as national president.

Bill served as chair of Penn State Altoona’s Steering Committee for the Grand Destiny campaign and the Development Council. As a member of Penn State Altoona’s Advisory Board, he delivered the fall commencement address at the college in Dec. 2002. He was also a volunteer in the campaign to raise support for the Bryce Jordan Center at the University Park campus.

The Rossmans were inducted into the Ivy Circle category of Penn State Altoona’s Ivyside Society, the highest level of recognition.

In 2005, Bill was named Penn State Altoona’s first Renaissance Fund Dinner honoree. The inaugural Renaissance Fund Dinner raised nearly $100,000 for the endowed scholarship. That same year, Bill received the prestigious Penn State Honorary Alumni Award, which is given by the Penn State Alumni Association to honor individuals who, though not graduates of the University, have  made significant contributions toward its welfare, reputation, or prestige.

In 2011, Penn State Altoona received a gift commitment from Steve and Nancy Sheetz to honor the lives of their longtime friends, Bill and Judy Rossman, to create Rossman Park, which is adjacent to the Sheetz Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence along Eleventh Avenue in downtown Altoona.

Bill was recognized as Penn State Altoona’s first Renaissance Fund honoree in 2005 and later that year was named Honorary Alumnus by the Penn State Alumni Association. In 2006, he received the Doctor in Humane Letters from Saint Francis University.

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