The Central Catholic High School community is mourning a longtime teacher who was the voice for the school’s football team.
The school announced Tuesday that John “Rosie” Rosenberger, science department chair and 1974 alumnus who had taught at the school since 1978, died Monday.
Known as a “Viking Legend,” Rosenberger was dedicated to educating and mentoring students, and supported various sports teams, including football, basketball, volleyball and wrestling, according to a statement from the school. He was also known as the “Voice of the Vikings,” which led to his induction into the Rockne Wall of Fame in 2017, the school said.
“He has been described by colleagues and students as a ‘wonderful guy’ who embodied the spirit of ACCHS,” the statement reads. “He will be greatly missed by the thousands of lives he touched.”
Rosenberger was the announcer and scorekeeper for wrestling and girls basketball. He was also the announcer for Vikings football.
“I really do enjoy it or else I wouldn’t be here,” he said in a 2016 Morning Call interview. “The kids keep getting younger, and I keep getting older. The technology keeps changing, but our kids are as great as they have ever been. And I’m really enjoying this football season because I didn’t know we’d be as good as we are. I’m a Central Catholic guy. There are not that many of us, so I enjoy keeping us all together at these games.”
The school said that once the funeral arrangements are finalized, that information will be shared with the community.