Rosalind “Rose” Theresa (Volotta) Rivera

Rosalind “Rose” Theresa (Volotta) Rivera, a longtime resident of Annapolis, Maryland, passed away peacefully with her two daughters by her side on August 10, 2026.

Rose was born on January 22, 1932 in Fulton, New York to Raffael “Ralph” Volotta and Domenica “Sandy” Taranto. She married Antonio “Tony” Manuel Rivera in 1954, with whom she had four children, Denise, Deborah, John, and Janice. The family made their home in Annapolis, MD. After she and Tony divorced, Rose met Salvatore “Sam” Firenze, and the pair were together until Sam’s death in 2017.

Along with her family, Rose was fiercely dedicated to her education and career. After graduating from Fulton High School, she earned her RN from General Hospital of Syracuse Nursing School; her Bachelor’s degree and Master’s in Education from Johns Hopkins University; and her Doctorate in Education from the University of Southern California. She dedicated her entire career to Anne Arundel Community College, starting as a nursing faculty member and ending her tenure as Chair of the Allied Health Division. Upon retirement she was honored with the title of Professor Emerita.

Rose was preceded in death by her parents; her siblings Mary, John, George, Alex, Joe, and Fred Volotta; her son John Anthony Rivera; and her life partner of over 30 years, Sam Firenze. She is fondly cherished by her living sister Genevieve Volotta; her three daughters, Denise Marie Rivera, Deborah Jean Rivera-Wienhold, and Janice Rivera; her sons-in-law Curt Wienhold and Peter Halverson; and her grandchildren Alex Sprague and Juliana Rivera Sprague.

In lieu of flowers, her family suggests honoring her with a donation to the Annapolis Historical Society or the AACC Foundation Nursing Scholarship Program at Anne Arundel Community College.