Michael D. Rosella, DDS

Dr. Michael D. Rosella, 92, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Saturday, December 27, 2025. Michael’s favorite quote by Thoreau was To affect the Quality of the Day, That is the Art of Life. He lived that life by inspiring others with his kindness, creativity, and generous spirit. Dr. Rosella was a dentist and photographic artist whose interests were fine art photography, documentary, street photography and clinical dental photography. Michael was born and raised in the Brushton neighborhood of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania in 1933. He attended Mother of Good Council School and graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1951. He attended the University of Pittsburgh and in 1957 received the Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from that University's School of Dentistry. From 1957 to 1959, Dr. Rosella served as Lieutenant Senior Grade in the U.S. Navy Dental Corps at the Submarine base in New London, Connecticut. He began his private practice of general dentistry in 1957. Concurrently, from 1961 to 1966 he was an instructor of Fixed Prosthodontics and Human Anatomy at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dentistry. He achieved  the status of Master in the Academy of General Dentistry and was a Fellow in the International College of Dentists. After retiring from thirty-six years as a general dentist, he volunteered his photographic services in the Department of Visual Communications at Saint Francis Hospital in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. His association with Silver Eye Gallery led to several exhibits of his work and a volume of his fine art photography: Pittsburgh Streets 1950’s, released in 2023 and celebrated by the Italian American Program at the Heinz History Center, a part of the Smithsonian. Dr. Rosella is survived by his loving wife of fifty-two years, Kathleen Vescio Rosella, his sister, Geraldine Rosella Boccella (John), his nieces, Mia Boccella and Amata Boccella, nephew, J.G. Boccella (Demeatria), grand-nieces, Tess Hartle and Adia Boccella. Visitations on Friday, January 2, 2025 from 3 - 8 p.m. at the Brusco-Falvo Funeral Home, Inc.,  214 Virginia Ave. Mt. Washington (412 381-2323). Funeral Mass on Saturday, January 3, 2025 at 10 a.m. in Saint Mary of the Mount Church/Mary, Queen of Peace Parish, 403 Grandview Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15211, followed by Military Honors. Contributions may be made to the charity of your choice. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Michael D. Rosella, DDS, please visit our floral store.