The longtime Moorestown High School athletic director passed away at the age of 63 on Monday, Dec. 4, after a short battle with leukemia
Neil Francis Xavier Rosa, 63, of Wall, passed away from a short battle and complications from leukemia on Monday, Dec. 4.
Neil was born in Jersey City and was proud to be a member of the St. Paul’s of Greenville “courtyard crew” and was named USA Mr. Biddy Basketball in 1967. Neil is an alumnus of Marist High School of Bayonne, Bentley College of Waltham, Mass., and UMass/Amherst. He was the first 1,000-point scorer and went on to be elected to the Marist High School Hall of Fame. His basketball accomplishments led him to 14 years of college coaching at Massachusetts, Colgate and Rider Universities and Ramapo College. He transitioned to athletic administration and was appointed athletic director at Clayton High School followed by Kingsway Regional to his current position at Moorestown High School. His peers acknowledged him when he was named the NJSIAA Athletic Director of the Year in 2014. He served as a member of the Executive Board of the Directors of Athletics Association of New Jersey.
Neil was blessed with a number of loves of his life: the first is his wife of 25 years, Debby; son Travis; daughters Michelle (Telly Kostidakis) and Melinda (Colin Fallon); and grandchildren Richie, Luke and Logan Bianchi, Kaz Kostidakis and Kayla and Carson Fallon. His love of family extended to his 14 Butler-Rosa brothers and sisters, and many nieces and nephews.
Neil played an active role at Grace Bible Church of Wall and his faith guided his everyday actions. After family and church, summers at the Spring Lake South End beach were among his greatest passions. You could always find Neil on a late summer day reading a book under his big floppy hat with zinc on his lips.
Family and friends paid their respects on Saturday, Dec. 9, at Grace Bible Church, Wall.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Jimmy V Foundation for Cancer Research www.jimmyv.org/neilrosa.
