Brooklyn legal community says goodbye to John Rose

September 27, 2016 By Rob Åbruzzese Brooklyn Daily Eagle

John Rose (left) was presented with retirement shield No. 1952 by Deputy Clerk of Court John Coakley during a retirement party in Downtown Brooklyn on Friday. Eagle photos by Rob Abruzzese

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Members of Brooklyn’s legal community joined together at the Surrogate’s Court on Friday for a retirement party for John Rose, a veteran of the Brooklyn Court system who is leaving after 29 years of service.

“We’re here today to celebrate the very successful career of John Rose,” said Charles A. Small, chief clerk for Civil Matters. “I really want to wish him well in his retirement. It’s well deserved. I know he’s got a lot of mileage, but he can still do a lot of work. He’s bright and really good. I hope that you’ll still be around for a long time to come.

“Just leave your number with us in case there is an issue,” Small joked.

Nearly 100 people gathered intermittently for the event, which lasted about two hours. Rose was presented with a retirement badge and a sketching set for parting gifts. Small also presented Rose with an Award of Appreciation on behalf of the court for his 29 years of service.

“John is an artist. He loves to sketch, so we got John a sketching set and a pad to go with it,” Roderick Randall said.

During his nearly three decades in the court system, Rose, whose official title was case management coordinator, moved around to five different courts and eventually settled in the Ex-Parte Department at 360 Adams St. His co-workers described him as a classy, easy-going guy who expertly dealt with any situation placed in front of him.

“You are a clerk’s clerk. You truly are,” said Donna J. Farrell, first deputy chief clerk, Civil Term. “You worked your way up, took every test, interviewed to get into the positions you got into. You are truly the eminent clerk. You wear your character on your sleeve and you show everyone tremendous respect. John can be described in one brief word — class. You are a class act, you truly are.”

“John worked in Family Court, [and] we were fortunate to have him,” said John Coakley. “I am going to reiterate what Donna said; John is truly a class act. He’s a consummate professional and we in Brooklyn have been fortunate to have him as our colleague. He has assisted tens of thousands of litigants who have come into our courthouses with a smile, and sometimes you don’t get that when you walk into a courthouse.”

Rose, who said that he wanted to sneak out into the night rather than have a big party, kept his remarks brief.

“I’m overwhelmed by all of this,” Rose said. “All of the well wishes and congrats have been really special to me. I appreciate it all. All I can say is, from the bottom of my heart, thank you. Thanks for sharing this day and your careers with me. My career has been filled with fond memories, great friends and lasting relationships.”