Francis Rosa
Francis James Rosa (November 7, 1920 – January 4, 2012) was an American sports journalist. He worked for The Boston Globe from 1949 to 1991. He became the paper's morning sports editor in 1966, and helped build it into a leading sports publisher. He covered the Boston Bruins during their Stanley Cup championships in 1970 and 1972, and was considered "one of the family" by team general manager Harry Sinden.[1] Rosa received the Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award in recognition of his hockey journalism from the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1987.
Francis Rosa | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | November 7, 1920 Boston, Massachusetts |
| Died | January 4, 2012 (aged 91) |
| Alma mater | Harvard College |
| Occupation | Sports journalist |
| Years active | 1949–1991 |
| Employer | The Boston Globe |
| Awards | Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award |
Early life and education
Francis James Rosa was born on November 7, 1920 in Boston, to parents Charles and Eustachia Calamaria. His father was a barber, and both parents were immigrants from Italy.[2] Rosa was the youngest child of five, was a paperboy as a youth, and began working with The Boston Globe as a copy boy in the sports department prior to World War II.[1]
Rosa served in the United States Army during the war and was promoted to sergeant in 1943. His promotion was covered in a story in The Boston Globe, which noted he was assigned to write about the completion of the Alaska Highway for an army publication. He married Ruth Baroni in 1944. After the war, he studied English at Harvard College with assistance from the G.I. Bill and graduated in 1949. He worked part-time at The Boston Globe as a student, and wrote a story in July 1948 about Ted Williams telephoning best wishes to a dying Babe Ruth.[1]
Journalism career
Rosa began working full-time with The Boston Globe in 1949, where he spent the remainder of his journalism career. He was appointed sports editor for the morning edition of The Boston Globe in March 1966. He and evening sports editor Ernie Roberts, hired writers which built the paper into a "powerhouse" sports publisher, which including the hiring of basketball reporter Bob Ryan by Rosa.[1] Rosa returned to a reporting role by the 1970s, and covered the Boston Bruins championships of the 1970 Stanley Cup Finals and the 1972 Stanley Cup Finals, and traveled with the team during the season.[1]
Rosa was among the first reporters in the 1980s to use a computer for writing instead of a typewriter.[3] He received the Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award from the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1987, in recognition of his hockey journalism as selected by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association.[4] He had also received the Eastern College Athletic Conference Media Award prior to 1987.[1] He retired from The Boston Globe in August 1991.[3]
Style and reputation
Boston Bruins general manager Harry Sinden spoke about Rosa stating that, "He became one of the family".[1] "In those days, we didn't seem to have the wall that's between some of the writers and teams today. I went to dinner with him many times on the road and thought of him as a good friend".[1] Hockey players were candid with Rosa, who filled articles with many quotes from them to bring their perspective of the game to the public.[1]
Journalist Kevin Dupont wrote that Rosa built relationships with athletes and gained their trust and respect. He described Rosa as "a man with a keen sense of how to take his work seriously, write with accuracy, clarity, and style, and with no ego or self-importance".[3] Dupont stated that Rosa was beloved by everyone involved on the team, and "You never heard a discouraging word from the players about Fran".[1] Rosa was reported by colleagues at The Boston Globe to dress dapper, be unflappable, and finish the night with a post-game scotch whisky.[1][3]
Personal life and death
Rosa was the father of three boys and one daughter. He took vacations during the off-season for hockey and gardened as a hobby. Later in life he had heart and lung problems, which led to his death at home in Lexington, Massachusetts on January 4, 2012. He was interred at Westview Cemetery in Lexington.[1][5]
References
- Marquard, Bryan (January 8, 2012). "Francis Rosa, 91; Hockey Hall of Fame sportswriter". The Boston Globe. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
- Births registered in the City of Boston for the year 1920, State of Massachusetts State, 1920, p. 168
- Dupont, Kevin (January 8, 2010). "A fond farewell to Fran Rosa, a true gentleman". The Boston Globe. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
- "Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award Winners". Legends of Hockey. Hockey Hall of Fame. 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
- "Francis J. Rosa". The Boston Globe. January 6, 2012. Retrieved August 2, 2020.