Vincent "Vinny" J. Rosa

Vincent J Rosa (Vinny), passed away Tuesday evening, March 5, 2024 at The Grove in Rock Hill, South Carolina, just three days after his 100th birthday.

Vinny was born in Waterbury, Connecticut on March 2, 1924, the son of Angelo and Louise Rosa. He was raised in Waterbury where he attended grade and high school, graduating in 1942. He attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) before enlisting in the Army in 1943 attached to 66th division (Black Panther), 2nd Battalion, Company G. PFC Vincent Rosa received the Purple Heart for wounds suffered in action in Brittany, France as well as the Bronze Star. Vinny returned to Rensselaer after the war to receive his bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering January 29, 1949. It was during this time that he met the love of his life, Muriel M. Schiapelli of Waterbury CT where they married in 1948. Upon graduation from RPI, Vinny worked for Grumman on Long Island and continued schooling to obtain his Master’s Degree in Aeronautical Engineering from New York University (NYU) in New York City. He received his degree in June 1953 after attending classes at night.

Vincent’s love of aviation carried through his entire life working for many of the major aerospace companies across the country as a problem solver/consultant from New York to Connecticut to California, to Florida, Ohio and Massachusetts. He obtained his private pilot’s license and the first of three small planes in the early 60’s while living in Ohio. He went on to obtain his instrument, commercial and instructor ratings and owned/operated a flight training business for many years.

Vinny moved his family to Wellesley Hills, MA in the 1960’s where he worked for Raytheon, MIT and The MITRE Corporation. While on the staff of MIT, he completed course work for a PhD in Aerodynamics.

He took his family to Europe for an extended vacation in 1969 retracing his war experiences while visiting family still living in Naples. In a combination of English and Italian, he explained the details behind the July 20th Apollo lunar landing to eager relatives on the rooftop of their apartment building overlooking the Bay of Naples. He and his wife retired to Effort, PA in 1987 and remained there until the fall of 2017 when he moved to the Carolinas.

Vinny is preceded in death by his wife Muriel (July 4, 2006); his mother and father, Louise and Angelo; his beloved sister and brother, Marie Gibbons of San Diego CA, and Dr. Carl Rosa of Waterbury Ct. He is survived by his son Paul V. Rosa of Hillsborough, NH; his daughter Roberta Rosa Sansevero of Charlotte, NC; his granddaughter Tina (Josh) Harrold, and great-grand daughter Lillian, all of Black Mountain, NC; his beloved sister and brother-in-law Mary Ellen and Guy Dessureault of Wolcott, CT; his niece Nancy (Kerry) Thomason of Lubbock Texas, and nephew Robert (Aldine) Yeo of Escondido CA.

Vincent was proud of his Italian heritage; his mother born in Naples Italy and immigrating to the US when she was just a child. He loved her homemade pastas, breads and cookies as well as the wine pressed at home by his father. Under his mother’s instruction, he also learned to be an accomplished cook. He loved to travel with his wife Muriel, making multiple trips across the US in their Miniwinnie RV with their pet macaw “Max” and cat Wendy.

Vincent will rejoin his beloved wife Muriel when he is laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington Virginia later this year.

Vincent’s family wishes to express their appreciation to Via Health Partners of Fort Mill for their compassionate and considerate care.