David Dave Rosa

David "Dave" Rosa spent his life in public service and in helping others. A 17‑year veteran of the Long Beach Fire Department, Captain Rosa rose to lead crews at Engine Company 10 and was known within the department for steady leadership and a deep commitment to his community. Colleagues and local accounts describe him as a hands‑on mentor to younger firefighters and a fixture at his station, someone who treated the firehouse as a second family.

Off the job, Rosa was a family man. Official department announcements and memorial notices identify his wife, Lynley, and their two sons, Alec and Sam, and note his close ties with his parents and sister. Friends and neighbors remembered him at vigils and services for his warmth and the quiet steadiness he brought to everyday life. He had served as a lifeguard and paramedic earlier in his career, a path that reflected a long-standing focus on rescuing and protecting people in crisis.

Rosa’s death on June 25, 2018, while responding to an emergency in downtown Long Beach, brought an outpouring of grief from fellow firefighters, municipal leaders, and residents across the region. In the year after his passing, the city and fire community honored his memory in several ways, including renaming the Long Beach Fire Department Regional Training Center in his name and holding memorials that drew hundreds of mourners and colleagues from many departments. These tributes emphasized that his life was more than his final shift: he was remembered as a husband, a father, a son, a brother, and a dedicated public servant.

When public records and memorials do not list every private detail of a person’s life, the measure of that life can still be seen in the lives touched. Captain Rosa’s colleagues recalled him as the kind of leader who quietly prepared others to do the job well and who showed up for neighbors in need. For the family and community that loved him, his absence is felt in everyday places: the kitchen table, the firehouse, and the training center that now bears his name. The respect and remembrance offered by those who served with him and by Long Beach residents stand as a testament to a life lived in the service of others.