Beloved South Park Teacher Gets Surprise Retirement Sendoff

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – A beloved South Park teacher got a touching sendoff Saturday before he retires.

Bill Rossetti, or "B Ro" as students call him, has been the band and chorus director at South Park High School for 35 years.

Saturday, nearly 200 people, including former and current students, showed up for Rossetti's party.

He was surprised with performances and speeches, as well as an afternoon picnic.

One of the performances was a flash mob parody of "New York, New York" by Frank Sinatra, titled "B Ro, B Ro." Rossetti is a big fan of Sinatra.

"Your finest work is successful and thriving. In each of us, you have made a difference and we carried that with us long after we left the band room," said one former student. "And for that, we are so grateful."

After several speeches, Rossetti was visibly overcome with emotion.

"I can't talk," he said.

He went on to speak of others who made a difference in his life, saying, "I just remember talking ... about trying to become a professional musician playing an instrument and just thinking back that maybe I should teach high school and make a difference and I think that I have. And that's really, very fulfilling to me."

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