Norbert J. "Rosie" Rosenberger, a longtime marine engineer and architect for the Navy, died of renal failure Wednesday at Perring Parkway Center nursing home. The lifelong East Baltimore resident was 88.
Mr. Rosenberger graduated from Polytechnic Institute in 1932, and attended the Johns Hopkins University while working at the Bethlehem Steel plant in Sparrows Point.
In 1942, he became an engineer for the Navy, helping to design warships. He sailed on the maiden voyages of many of the ships he helped design. During the Cuban missile crisis, he was stationed at Morgantown, W.Va., which would have become President John F. Kennedy's headquarters had nuclear war broken out.
He spent most of his career stationed in Washington, although he always returned home to Hamilton on weekends, said his nephew, Sean Murphy of Baltimore.
He was a member of the American Society of Naval Engineers. Mr. Rosenberger retired from the Navy in 1976.
Although he enjoyed following football, baseball and politics, he devoted most of his free time to helping family members with everything from odd chores to funding for college, his nephew said.
"He always tried to help his family," Mr. Murphy said. "That was his hobby."
He was a longtime parishioner at St. Dominic Roman Catholic Church in Hamilton.
Services were held Saturday.
Mr. Rosenberger also is survived by a sister, Rita Pollock of Baltimore.
