Deacon Joseph J. Kosman, Ph.D.

Age 57, a permanent deacon for the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington, went to be with the Lord after a sudden illness surrounded by his loving family on Saturday, May 12, 2012 at his home in Bear, DE.

Born November 15, 1954 in Connecticut, he was the son of the late Joseph and Amelia (nee Lawrence) Kosman. He graduated from Fordham University and earned his Master's and Doctorate degrees in chemistry from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

On May 27, 1978, Joe married Patricia Anne Foran. The couple moved to Cleveland, OH for his job with Sohio where they became active with their local church. Moving to Bear in 1993 for employment with W.L. Gore and Associates as an analytical chemist, Dr. Kosman completed his diaconate formation with the Diocese of Wilmington and was ordained on November 17, 2001.

Deacon Kosman ministered at his parish, Immaculate Conception in Elkton, MD for over ten years. In addition, he was assigned for the chaplaincy and liturgies at Washington College, Chestertown, MD until 2008, when he and his wife took responsibility for the RCIA catechesis program for people entering the Catholic Church at Immaculate Conception and St. Jude Church, North East, MD.

Deacon Kosman is survived by his wife of 33 years, Patricia; two daughters, Christine McGarvey and her husband, Todd, Springfield, PA and Mary Kosman, Bear, DE; brothers, Paul and his wife, Cynthia, Enfield, CT, Stephen and his wife, Brenda, Rochester, NY, Michael and his wife, Donna, Phelan, CA, and Robert Kosman and his partner, Christopher Long, Lyndhurst, NJ; and sisters, Donna Kosman, St. Petersburg, FL, and Carol Kosman, Burlingame, CA. He is also survived by his nieces, Ellen Kosman, New York, Laurie Kosman Turrill, Texas, and Heather Kosman, Connecticut; and nephew, Michael Kosman, Jr., California.

A Wake Service will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Friday evening, May 18, 2012, followed by calling hours from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Immaculate Conception Church, 454 Bow St., Elkton, MD 21921. An additional calling hour will take place at 10 a.m. prior to the Funeral Mass on Saturday, May 19. Concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial with Bishop W. Francis Malooly of the Diocese of Wilmington will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, May 19, at Immaculate Conception Church. Interment will follow Mass in Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Cherry Hill, MD.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Immaculate Conception Outreach, P.O. Box 345, Elkton, MD 21922.