Richard Marshall Rose was born in Inglewood on March 19, 1946 to Claude
and Juanita Rose. The family moved to Redondo Beach a few years later
where he was raised with older brothers Dennis and Robert. Rick attended
Beryl, Hillcrest and then Redondo Union High School where he pulled lots of
pranks when not surfing or playing football. After graduating in 1963, he went
on to El Camino College. It was one summer night at the local hotdog hangout
that he met his future wife, Susanne Pina of Hermosa Beach. Convincing her to
go out on a date with him, they never left each other’s side for 57 years. They
married at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in January 1965. That union
brought them three wonderful children, Jean-Paul (Lily Schvchenko) of Torrance,
Mark (Melanie Farrell) of Torrance and Alejandra (Mike Fritz) of Huntington
Beach. They were all so loved by him.
Rick entered the engineering field at 18 years old and that career spanning 35 years
took him to most aerospace facilities including Hughes Aircraft, Singer Librascope,
Northrup Grumman, Boeing in Everett, Washington and finally to Boeing, Long
Beach. Rick made many lifelong friendships with his engineering coworkers.
After a relationship with a Los Angeles adoption agency in the 90’s, Rick and Susie
were asked by the agency to be parent group leaders for potential adoptive families.
For over fifteen years, that parent support group, Parents and Children Together,
helped many navigate the system and form their family. Further, that parent support
group’s core families formed the nonprofit Adoption Information Center. In 1999,
he joined Susie at Adoption Information Center where, as an Adoption Coordinator,
he took great pride in helping birthmothers who were placing their babies for adoption
connecting them with waiting adoptive families. More than 400 families were made
with his help.
Rick had a generous heart. He never said no to anyone who needed a place to stay or
a meal to be eaten. He was always by Susie’s side when they conducted their annual
Thanksgiving Basket distribution for the needy birthmothers they knew or collecting
hundreds of gifts during the holidays for the foster children of Los Angeles county.
Although Rick was not Latin, he married into a large South Bay Mexican family that
loved him dearly and were just as willing to have a good time like he did. His love for
sports and the Los Angeles Rams was shared with his children and extended family.
He would shout “Go Rammers” even if the Dodgers or Lakers were playing. He loved
the theatre taking all of his children to every play possible “front row and center.” Rick
loved history and would talk about “the wars” for hours if you let him, rock and roll,
British cars, antiques, rare books and Aunt Sara’s chili rellenos (and Helen’s after Aunt
Sara passed away). He loved the South Bay and never wanted to move anywhere else.
He only had a three year stint in Washington at Boeing and happily returned to the South
Bay never to leave. again.
Rick leaves Susie, JP and Lily, Mark and Melanie, Alejandra and Mike, Dennis’ (dec.) wife,
Ginger, and their family, many cousins, nieces, nephews, godchildren, friends and colleagues.
God speed, Rick, we will remember you with a smile on our faces.
Funeral Services
Richard M. Rose
RSVP: LA_adoptions@yahoo.com
August 19, 2022
Lighthouse Mortuary
5310 Torrance Blvd.
Torrance 90503
4.00 p.m.
Viewing
5:00 p.m.
Rosary
6:00 p.m.
Reception
August 20, 2022
Holy Trinity Catholic Church
1292 West Santa Cruz Street
San Pedro 90732
10:00 a.m.
Mass
After Mass, we will go by Procession to:
Holy Cross Cemetery
5835 Slauson Blvd.
Culver City 90230
1:00 p.m.
Lunch Reception
Culver City Elk’s Club
11160 Washington Place
Culver City 90232
Our deepest condolences to Aunt Susie and my cousins. Paul and I are so sorry to hear of Uncle Rick’s passing. He was such a fun and generous person to be around. Paul and I have so many great memories of Uncle Rick. He will never be forgotten. The one memory that came to mind when I first heard of his passing was all the birthday parties he attended when we were just kids. Uncle Rick never forgot to stick his finger in the birthday cake before it was time to blow out the candles. All us cousins and my sisters would yell at him. He would just walk away laughing. I love you Uncle Rick you will be missed. All my love to Aunt Susie and my cousins. God Bless you. !
