Maureen "Momo" Rosenberg

January 31, 1965 - November 15, 2020

Maureen Rosenberg passed away on November 15, 2020, after battling leiomyosarcoma for the past two and a half years. She was surrounded by both her family by birth and by several members of her “family by choice”—having forged strong friendships with several of her colleagues—most of whom had worked with her at Togus (the VA hospital in Augusta, Maine). Maureen grew up in Hampden (outside of Bangor), the youngest of the three children of Lorraine and Maurice Robitaille. Maureen’s parents split when she was 14 years old, and she moved in with her mother. After graduating from high school, Maureen worked as a mother’s helper for a family outside of Boston. After about two years and many adventures, Maureen returned to Bangor, entered college, and earned a degree in child development at the University of Maine at Orono. Maureen wanted to be a physicians’ assistant (PA), despite having been discouraged from taking that career path by one of her high school teachers. Luckily, Maureen didn’t pay any attention to this ill-informed individual and subsequently earned her PA degree at Towson University, outside of Baltimore in 1992. Maureen then worked at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center for several years before deciding to return to Maine. Obtaining certification as a PA in emergency medicine, Maureen worked at several clinics and hospitals before joining the staff at the then-newly established emergency room at Togus. Maureen had returned to Maine in part to take care of Mom, enabling Mom to retire. For over 20 years, Maureen was devoted to Mom’s care and well-being. Perhaps mindful of the rough period that they both had after Mom’s divorce, Maureen once wrote Mom the following note that years later we found stored in Mom’s desk: “Don’t worry about me or money—we can do it—I will always be there for you.” Maureen, who once remarked that she had two pairs of jeans to her name, ensured that Mom was always dressed fashionably. Maureen was passionate about her dogs and cats, having adopted 11 dogs 5 cats over the course of her life. Maureen’s drive to take in the vulnerable led her to Mimi, an experience that was described in an August 2015 blog from Bestfriends.org. (Check out the blog entry for the story and a rare photo of Maureen: “Skye terrier mix with Cushing’s disease adopted,” August 7, 2015). Maureen put considerable time and effort into rehabilitating Charlie, taking him regularly to Sergei, the Dog Whisperer. Maureen left detailed instructions on caring for a couple of dogs that is a page long, with such helpful observations as “Mimi will bite your hand off if you are not careful” and “Wally does not like to get his toes wet.” Maureen leaves a large box full of doggie costumes and the wildest outfits that you may ever see on a dog. Maureen delighted in sharing her doggie antics with her niece Claire, the youngest daughter of her brother, Kevin. Maureen took Claire under her wing, becoming the aunt who loved to take Claire horseback riding, to Bermuda, and to the animal sanctuary in Utah. Maureen and Claire spent several summer vacations on Islesboro, kayaking (usually with at least one dog in the double kayak), walking on the beach and to Hutchins Island, and eating gourmet potato chips such as ketchup-flavored chips. Maureen had open arms for her other nieces and nephews, even making the ultimate sacrifice of serving as a blackjack dealer at her nephew Brian’s all-night graduation party from high school. Maureen was known at Togus to be somewhat of a prankster at times. Colleagues learned to be careful about where they laid down their cell phones or else they would find a nose or other facial feature their cell phones’ new wallpaper. More broadly, the strength of Maureen’s friendships with colleagues became quite apparent to me and Kevin, watching several of them rallying to care for her in her final weeks of life. Six friends spent several long nights sleeping on the couch (Sue Ellen, Christy, Laura, Nora, Jen, and Emily) and spending the nights with Mom while the siblings were away. Bev made good use of her carpentry skills, building a ramp for Maureen’s wheelchair and making several needed repairs. Nora generously lent Maureen her RV, enabling Maureen to travel down to Johns Hopkins Hospital for another medical evaluation in early October with her two siblings. Jen provided expert medical assistance as her primary care physician. Doug repaired the generator so that it would work during the next power outage. These friends and many others brought many meals, deserts, scrumptious blueberry muffins, and other treats, providing welcome relief from some cooking responsibilities. We are deeply grateful for the love and generosity Maureen’s friends—our friends, demonstrated for Maureen over these past several weeks. ur