Rosemary Agonito

Rosemary Agonito, 85, wished to announce that she has at last achieved a long, good night’s sleep.

The daughter of Italian immigrants, Filomena and Mariangelo Giambattista, she overcame the limits and poverty of her background, thanks to public schools. Rosemary graduated valedictorian from North High and was inducted into North High's Hall of Fame. She attended Le Moyne College (B.A.), Niagara University (M.A. in Literature), and Syracuse University (Ph.D. in Philosophy).

Rosemary engaged in three careers. She was a college professor at Colgate University and Eisenhower College of RIT, established a unique consulting business, New Futures Enterprises, specializing in gender equality, and was a writer throughout.

Rosemary was nationally recognized for her work in all three careers. As a college professor, she received the Robert Earll McConnell Foundation's Thomas Jefferson Award which honored 10 professors nationwide each year for "qualities Thomas Jefferson would have thought essential to the intellectual, social and political advancement of mankind." She has also been listed in various "Who's Who."

As a business owner, Rosemary offered consulting and training on gender equality to corporate, educational and government institutions. She received the Women in Business Advocate of the Year Award for New York State and Region 2 from the U.S. Small Business Administration. Rosemary developed a unique training program for women business owners and trained trainers throughout New York State. The New York State Education Department honored her work promoting sex equality in schools. Her efforts for women's rights led the Minorities and Women in Business magazine to honor her as a "woman who makes a difference."

As a writer, Rosemary’s first novel, “Buffalo Calf Road Woman,” based on a true story and a joint project with her husband, Joseph Agonito, received the prestigious Western Heritage Award for Best Western Novel in 2006. Her book, “No More ‘Nice Girl’,” was the subject of a national book tour that included a stint on the Jerry Springer Show which she was often teased about. “History of Ideas on Woman” was a widely used text in women's studies. She published nine books, fiction and non-fiction, and many articles in popular, scholarly, and business journals.

Rosemary lectured widely on women's issues and was quoted as a gender issues expert in major publications like “People,” “Parents,” “USA Today,” “Christian Science Monitor,” “Marie Claire,” “Glamour,” “Mademoiselle,” “New Woman,” and others. She appeared as a gender expert on television and radio shows around the country, including CNN, NBC, CNBC, MSNBC, PBS, and others.

An activist, Rosemary took part in countless protests and marches for civil, labor, and women's rights. She served on numerous community boards and task forces, including the City-County Human Rights Commission, Mayor Young's Commission for Women, Syracuse Task Force on Women Business Enterprises, NY State Task Force on Sex Equity in Education, Girls Inc., Stanton Foundation, Gage Foundation, and Planned Parenthood. She received numerous local awards for her work.

Interested in resurrecting women's history and forgotten women, Rosemary was part of a small group instrumental in establishing the National Women's Rights Historic Park in Seneca Falls. She traveled the world widely, visiting over 30 countries from New Zealand to Turkey, Iceland to Morocco, Tahiti to Belize, Bermuda to Jamaica, and throughout Europe with her husband. When their children were young, they explored the U.S. every summer in their camper. 

Rosemary was predeceased by her parents; sister, Mary Morgan; and daughter-in-law, Chrishell Agonito.

Surviving are her husband, Joseph; children, Giancarlo and Mae Lee Agonito; grandchildren, Tyler Stewart and Kaelyn Ismayilov; sister, Dr. Mary Ampola; and several nieces and nephews.

There are no calling hours or services. 

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Planned Parenthood, 1120 E. Genesee St., Syracuse, NY 13210, or to St. Francis Friends of the Poor, 155 W. 22nd St., New York, NY 10114.