Rosemary Lasko Obituary (1953 - 2020)

On November 15, 2020 the world lost a generous and unique soul when Rosemary Lasko passed away from complications due to diabetes. She was born on January 18, 1953 to Valent J. and Mary Borich Lasko in Ogden. Rosemary graduated from Ben Lomond High School in 1971. She earned her undergraduate degree from Weber State and a Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Utah. Her career began at Granite School District in 1977, where she was employed for the next 35 years. Most of those years were spent at Pioneer Elementary in West Valley City. She influenced thousands of children, teaching social skills, life skills; and in her special capacity as Social worker, she counseled and supported children who were struggling with mental health issues, poverty, family crises, behavior challenges, abuse, neglect and so many little troubles that children share only with a trusted friend. She was that friend. Rosemary was also a support for many faculty and staff at the school and district levels and cherished the many friends she made there. She was a proud Democrat and often talked about working on the campaigns of Gunn McKay and George McGovern when she was in her late teens. Her summers were spent gardening, camping, hiking and especially fishing in the Uinta Mountains. She knew all the best campgrounds, trails and best places for four-wheeling. She could name every tree and wild flower and recognize the trills of different birds. And she loved the night sky. When people asked what faith she was she always said she was a “Uintatarian.” To some younger people who grew up around her she was known as “Fishwoman” because she knew so much about angling and she taught them well. She raised a beautiful flower garden every year, adding another rose bush or color of iris whenever she could. She loved raising vegetables, particularly tomatoes from which she made a juice that no one could drink without getting heartburn because it was so spicy, but delicious. She loved animals, particularly yellow Labradors. She could often be seen riding around town in her SUV with her windows down so the dogs could lean out and enjoy the ride. She loved the wonders of the western National Parks and visited as many as she could. An extra-special place in her life was the Oregon coast. She preferred the rough coast line of Yachats, Oregon where she could spend time listening to the crashing surf and watching for whales, eating fresh seafood, and traveling up and down Highway 101. Rosemary was often so generous with people it almost hurt to see it. For instance in a restaurant, even if the service and the food was bad, she would often leave a $20 tip for the server. When asked why, she would say “Because I think she (or he) needed the money.” She is survived by her sister, Joanne (Gerald) Linford, Ogden; and by her brothers, Fred (Joyce, deceased) Lasko, Henderson, Nevada, and Val (Jill) Lasko Jr., of El Dorado Hills, California. She also has many nephews and nieces who remember their Aunt Rosemary with fondness. Her family and close friends would like to thank the nurses and doctors on the eighth floor of the tower at the Intermountain Medical Center for their attentive care and compassion in the last days of Rosemary’s life.