Derek & Joshua
Wedding Party
Derek Lee
Groom
Derek met Joshua in 2020 during the COVID Pandemic. Training in Connecticut to become a Family Medicine doctor, Derek sought out opportunities to work with the underserved and the LGBTQ+ community. He began volunteering at the HGLHC (Health Collective) where Joshua worked in September/October of 2020. Through weekly masked interactions at the Health Collective, they developed a quick friendship discussing the different challenges in medicine, especially during a global pandemic. Inspired by his knowledge, drive and kindness, Derek asked Joshua out, which he declined. Despite that they began spending time together which would quickly develop into a strong relationship. Derek strove to teach Josh about the joy of food, travel, Disney, Harry Potter and all things anime. In the meantime, learning an immense amount of knowledge from Josh's repository of strange, but important facts. After moving to New Hampshire together, and traveling to Hawaii, Japan and Hong Kong together, Joshua proposed on 12/8/2023.
Joshua Rozovsky
Groom
It's fair to say Joshua wasn't looking for a relationship when he met Derek. Working remotely from Texas while helping manage the HGLHC's response to the emerging pandemic that became known as COVID-19, Joshua spoke to Derek first on the phone about his interest in volunteering in the HGLHC clinic. As the pandemic unfolded, Joshua and Derek became closer both due to shared medical interests and their mutual desire to provide care under conditions that were closing opportunities for care to many patients, especially the underserved as the pandemic took hold. Over time, their relationship shifted from that of colleagues to that of close friends, and eventually more! Joshua likes to say that Derek brought out his deep-seated and long-hidden silly side. Derek refuses to believe that Joshua was anything but silly before they started dating...
Larissa Lee
Derek's Best Person
For those who don't know, Larissa has known Derek ever since he was little. Being his older sister, they grew up with the typical sibling rivalry, growing closer in adulthood. Larissa has been a crucial part of Derek's life while he lived in NYC, moving on to medical school, residency and beyond. Larissa and Derek have spent many years sharing interests in Disney, Harry Potter, Studio Ghibli, food, travel, puzzles, dogs and much more. Larissa was able to introduce Derek to his first escape room and showed Josh the magic of Disney on his first ever trip to Disney World. She has been an important person in Josh and Derek's life as she has been present for a lot of special events in their relationship.
Rabbi Aaron Stucker-Rozovsky
Best Man
Josh and Aaron grew up together in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Together, they climbed the forts and ruins of Point Pleasant Park. It's no wonder being surrounded by history, Aaron was drawn to studying military history. Of course, the fact that Aaron remembers everything in the human historical record helps too! Joshua was always more interested in the technology and science behind the ruins. While they had different interests growing up, Aaron and Joshua were both interested in animals, and even conspired to "borrow" the neighbor's dog (without asking). They also enjoyed refusing to eat mom's bran muffins, knowing that they would get to watch neighborhood raccoons "Rona and Rhonda" eat them instead. Aaron is not only Joshua's younger brother but a great scholar, soldier and Rabbi. Being able to visit Aaron, his beautiful wife Eliza, and their many cats is always a joyful journey filled for Joshua and Derek. On one recent visit, Derek introduced Aaron and Eliza to Chinese-style hot pot, and this meal is now a favorite of the Stucker-Rozovsky household. In fact, Aaron is now able to eat Chinese Broccoli, despite his disdain for the Western vegetable of the same name!
Danny Dustin
Derek's Groomsman
Danny and Derek met in their first year in Medical school through Danny's now-wife, Emilia. After an exciting Halloween party, Danny and Derek became fast friends. Through activities in and out of school Derek remained close with Emilia and Danny. Despite doing residency in different states and specialties, they have remained close with Derek being a groomsman in Danny's wedding. Derek will soon become Uncle Derek as Danny and Emilia expect their first child together!
David Beasley
Josh's Groomsman
David and Joshua met in eighth grade in Henrico, Virginia. Both science and engineering nerds, they met in Science class and... are still in science class. David and Joshua attended the Engineering Speciality Center program at Highland Springs High School, where they also both befriended David's now-wife Lori. David, Joshua and Lori three went off to college together and have remained close friends. In almost thirty years of friendship, Joshua and David have continued to tinker with electronics, computers, and amateur radio even when living at opposite sides of the country. Derek and Lori have both become accustomed to boxes of strange gadgetry arriving unexpectedly, courtesy of Joshua or David. David is doing is best to ensure his daughters are at least as technically-inclined, mastering soldering and programming. Joshua has no doubt that David will give his children cars that run on nuclear fusion, but require them to assemble them first.
Hannah Radecki
Derek's Maid of Honor
Hannah and Derek met in 2018 in Residency at Middlesex Hospital. Being in the same residency class and working out of the same office, the two of them spent 4 years together developing their skills as Family Medicine doctors. Plenty of late nights, after work meals, game nights, escape rooms and weekend outings brought them together. Since residency, they regularly visit each other and talk on the phone to support each other to grow in their personal and professional lives.
Fisnik Hasani
Josh's Groomsman
Fisnik (Fisi) and Joshua have been close friends since high school. Fisnik and his family were recently arrived from Kosova when Joshua started spending lunches with Fisnik, helping him with English and getting settled into his new high school. Fisi quickly became a part of the Rozovsky family, joining Joshua, Aaron, Fay and Lorne, and sometimes Joshua's grandmother Beatrice, at their home in Henrico. Fisnik and Joshua remained close through college and beyond as Fisi excelled in finance and business in banking and earning his MBA. Creative, generous and polyglot, Fisi has is a generous and loyal friend, and remains far too humble even as he expands his business enterprises built around his newly patented advertising sleeves for the beverage industry.
Greg Wolownik
Derek's Groomsman
Derek met Greg and his now husband, David, in 2012 after graduating from college and moving to New York City. Since then, Greg has been a close friend. Both Greg and David have provided Derek support through the challenges of medical, residency and beyond. They have visited him in both Maine and Connecticut when he was living there. One fun memory was when they went to a winery in Connecticut which was not very good and they laughed about it the entire day with the memorabilia glasses still with Derek to this day.
Concetto Dimauro
Josh's Groomsman
Joshua and Concetto (Chet) have been friends since 2008. Together they joined social and fundraising activities at the Health Collective, travelled together to destinations from Provincetown to San Francisco, and upstate New York to Vermont. Joshua will never forgive Chet for tricking him into tackling a black diamond ski run... somehow Joshua survived. In his final days, Joshua's father Lorne desired a special meal of Cornish hens and Italian Ice. Chet dropped everything during one of his busiest market days, drove across the State of Connecticut, and prepared for Lorne a delicious meal that turned out to be one of his last that he was able to enjoy. It was an act of incredible selflessness and kindness that brought Lorne, Fay and all of the Rozovsky family much happiness. This act remains an embodiment of who Chet is as a person and friend.
Emily Lee Dawkins
Mother of the Groom
Emily has been a consistent positive force in Derek's life and now Josh's life. Supporting Derek through college, medical school and residency on his mission to become a doctor. Teaching him many lessons in helping others, working hard and the importance of family. After losing Cheun, Derek's dad, to cancer in 2008, they have both worked towards giving back to the medical community by raising money for cancer research. Both Derek and Emily have graced many editions of the Jimmy Fund advertisements to help raise money to find a cure for cancer. She is excited to gain a son in Josh and the future that Derek and Josh will have together.
Ann Frank Goldstein
Aunt of the Groom
A psychologist and former journalist, it's no wonder that Auntie Ann has always been someone who could figure out what Joshua wanted in life, even before he did. Growing up, visits to Auntie Ann were always special. While often Auntie Ann's advice was similar to that of Aaron and Joshua's mother Fay, Joshua and Aaron were always more apt to listen to the advice coming from Auntie Ann. As Joshua became an adult and navigated college and meeting Derek, this tradition continued. Derek's in-person introduction to Joshua's family was with Auntie Ann and Uncle Gerry. While there wasn't any doubt in Joshua's mind, Auntie Ann and Uncle Gerry said the quiet part out loud - making clear to Joshua that they too thought Derek was the one for him!
Gary Dawkins
Father of the Groom
Gary has been a close friend of Emily's as they worked together at SunLife for many years. They found love and support in each other when their partners passed. Derek has felt blessed to have Gary for a father after losing Cheun in his late teenage years. Gary has been a great father figure and good support for Emily. Derek enjoys playing card games like Nerts, Crazy Eight and Uno or other games like foosball and beating him.
Gerry Goldstein
Uncle of the Groom
Uncle Gerry is the kind of person who, like Auntie Ann, helps everyone around him through his actions and his words - and his words are powerful. A veteran journalist, his articles and opinion pieces combine wit and commentary that follows in the traditions of the greats of American journalism and authorship. While Uncle Gerry may not think so, Joshua often reads his articles and thinks of Samuel Clements. During hard times in Joshua and Aaron's lives, Uncle Gerry and Auntie Ann, with their amazing use of language and insight, wisdom and experience, helped Joshua and Aaron become the men they are today. Together, Auntie Ann and Uncle Gerry are an incredible team, helping others, growing good food, and looking after their horses and dog Pixie on their farm Shalom Acres, where they also shovel manure... lots of manure... all to help grow the best tomatoes on the East Coast!
Nala and Kaya
Derek's Pups of Honor
Nala and Kaya are pups from the same litter. Born in 2015 and adopted by Emily and Derek together. The girls have been a fun part of Derek and Josh's lives. With their fun personalities and loving kisses they both have a special personality that brings smiles to Derek and Josh's face. Though, they mainly live with Emily, they visit often and give Derek and Josh plenty of love to recover from stressful days.
Motl
Josh's Pup of Honor (in memorium)
Motl was Joshua's goofy Beagle that has been Joshua's partner for 15 years. He had been around for almost all of Joshua's milestones as an adult. Being a goofy but empathetic dog, he was a good support for Joshua, and everyone else who was able to meet him. Motl loved being silly, going for walks and food. His unmistakable tippy tappy toes kept Joshua and Derek moving. Motl's favorite past time was to pretend that he had never been fed, even if he had been only five minutes ago.