Justin Rosado

Earlier this week, I found out that my student and brother from another mother, Justin Rosado, passed away. I am deeply saddened to share this news with the world.

I remember first meeting Justin as an incoming freshman in our EOF Summer Program a few years before COVID. I quickly observed that he was a fellow ponderer. As a non-traditional student, Brother Justin contributed some critical discourse to the Summer Program based on his authentic lived experience. His words were raw because he always spoke from his soul. He was a model of resilience and a source of inspiration for me, many of my colleagues, and members of his cohort.

In his time at the college, Justin excelled academically and was involved with our chapter of the Alliance of EOF Students of New Jersey (AESNJ), the Men of Color Success Initiative (MOCSI), and Phi Theta Kappa: International College Honor Society (PTK). Beyond his accomplishments as a student leader, he was also a gifted poet and rapper. On numerous occasions, he shared his lyrical gifts with the college community.

I saw a lot of myself in Justin. I remember taking him suit shopping and showing him how to tie a tie. He met my family and I met his mother, Daisy. The brother had so much potential to continue doing great things on this planet and it breaks my heart to say goodbye, but like many other young Patersonians - especially in the time of COVID - God had other plans for him.

If you knew Justin, I hope that you will be able to attend his funeral. If you are unable to attend, please share some love, beautiful memories, or words of comfort in the comments below. I’ll make sure that his family receives them.

Please keep Justin’s loved ones in prayer - especially his mother. Justin was Daisy’s only son. She has asked to use the money received from this Go Fund Me campaign to pay for his funeral expenses.

Enrique Noguera

Director

Educational Opportunity Fund Program

Passaic County Community College