East Montpelier, VT Rosendo Cueto, Jr. (a.k.a., Rosie or Chule) died at home with his family at his bedside on December 23, 2007 after a long battle with cancer. Rosie, born September 7, 1920 at Heaton Hospital in Montpelier, grew up on Berlin Hill with his parents, Rosendo Cueto, Sr. and Azucena Canas Cueto, and his sister, Anita. His parents both emigrated from Santander Province in northern Spain and settled and later met in Montpelier. His father started a meat business in 1922 traveling the neighborhoods in a horse-drawn cart. Rosie worked with his father at the family market on Barre Street. After graduation from Montpelier High School, Rosie attended Vermont College, earning a degree in business administration and lettering in three sports. The consummate patriot, Rosie enlisted in the army in 1942 going first to Camp Breckinridge, Kentucky and then on to the Pacific Theatre as part of the 389th Infantry Regiment, Company F. His company was among the first troops to occupy southern Japan. He attained the rank of 1st sergeant, leaving the service in 1946. Stepping off the train in Montpelier, he picked up his store apron to rejoin his father at the market, abandoning his intention to accept a job offer with Green Mountain Power and instead succumbing to his sense of family responsibility. After 33 years of long 6-day weeks, he closed the door to the market for the last time in 1979, although with some reluctance due to the many good customers he had earned and the excellent opportunities to hone his gift to gab, especially on the subject of politics. He continued to work, first in the real estate business, later as a relief rural mail carrier, and, since 1985, as the head lister for the Town of East Montpelier, a job he retained until this past October when he was no longer physically able to continue. In 1946, the family bought a farm on Murray Road in East Montpelier, a farm that was first settled by a Montpelier founder in the 1790s. The family raised beef cattle on the farm and later established the first state-licensed slaughterhouse. Rosie prided himself in his polled registered Herefords, growing his herd to 60 head and selling them all over New England and New York State. On June 23, 1947, Rosie married the love of his life, Armonia "Val" Villanueva, a WWII army nurse, in Williamstown, her home town. They had two children, Jeffrey Rosendo and Julie Ellen. In 1959, Rosie and Val built a home on the farm. Rosie had a strong conviction in service to community. Upon moving to East Montpelier, he became active in town government. He represented East Montpelier when the Towns separated from Montpelier to create U-32 Junior/Senior High School, helping to instill innovative approaches to and philosophies in teaching, such as the open classroom and teacher advisors. He was one of the first members and a chair of the U-32 school board. Rosie was active in the Montpelier Merchants Bureau and Montpelier Chamber of Commerce. He was named Montpelier's Man of the Year. He helped start the Central Vermont Rotary and was active in Rotary for many years, helping to provide scholarships to U-32 students. He was named Central Vermont Rotarian of the Year. The Rotary commemorated his membership, after 22 years of perfect attendance, with Rosie Cueto Night on November 27, 1995, making him a Paul Harris Fellow. In addition to being town lister, he served on the selectboard and other town committees. He relished attending the annual town meeting and expressing his opinion on matters before the Town. At East Montpelier Rally Day last September, the Town honored him as Citizen of the Year. The day coincided with his birthday, and he was happy beyond belief. Rosie was also a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and formerly a member of the Montpelier Elks Club and the Mt. Sinai Shriners. In addition to people, Rosie loved the Red Sox, working on the farm, cutting his own firewood (which he did until he was 84), riding his Ford 8N tractor, the solitude of the woods, and viewing the Vermont landscape. Rosie leaves behind his wife, his son Jeffrey, Jeffrey's wife, Linda, and son, Daniel Rosendo, of East Montpelier, and his daughter Julie, of Milton. In lieu of flowers, a donation in memory of Rosie may be made to Central Vermont Home Health & Hospice (600 Granger Road, Barre, VT 05641), which provided much comfort and assistance in his last days. Following his wishes, there will be no calling hours. A committal service will be held at the convenience of the family at Berlin Corners Cemetery in the spring.