Richard Charles “Rick” Rosenberg

Chapel Hill, NC – Richard “Rick” Rosenberg passed away peacefully on April 16, 2021 after a six year battle with cancer. Although his death was not a surprise, his family and friends are devastated and heartbroken. Rick was born and raised in Roanoke, VA, graduated college from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1976, and returned to Roanoke to work with his father in the family business, Oak Hall Cap and Gown. He met the love of his life, Rebecca, in 1978, and they married at Beth Israel Synagogue on October 16, 1982.

After 14 years, he left Virginia for New Hampshire to earn his Master of Business Administration at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College in 1993. Following graduation, Rick became the president and owner of TMT Software until its sale in 2007. He used his early retirement to make a number of investments, which included PCS Concrete and SOUTH, a gift and interior design shop founded by his wife, Rebecca, in Chapel Hill.

Rick was a connector and a role model; many called him a second father and he sought to turn every friend and acquaintance into a member of the family. A diehard Tar Heel fan, he spent most weekends walking to campus and watching a UNC game or two in a Carolina cap and a Tuck sweatshirt. He loved a freshly baked oatmeal raisin cookie, his complicated Starbucks order, a complete Sudoku, an elaborate salad, and a finely groomed blue ski run.

Beyond his business endeavors, he was a friend, mentor, and leader in his communities. He served on numerous boards related to education and Jewish life that included: board chair of the Hill Learning Center and recipient of its 2021 Charles S. Atwater Star Volunteer Award; board chair of the NC Hillel; an appointment by Governor Roy Cooper to the NC Holocaust Council; and a member of the Board of Directors and inaugural member of the Board of Governors at the Malcolm Rosenberg Hillel Center at Virginia Tech. Whether formally or informally, he generously shared his expertise, insight, and kindness.

Rick is survived by his wife, Rebecca Frost Rosenberg, and their four children, Sarah Jennings Rosenberg (Erin Dey), Samuel Lake Rosenberg, Abigail Frost Rosenberg (Sabri Math), and William Gabriel Rosenberg, mother Ruthe Fink, second mother Diane Rosenberg, sister Elise Rosenberg, brother Stephen Rosenberg (Eliane), niece Talia Rosenberg, nephew Lucas Rosenberg, brother-in-law Stuart Frost, nephews Brandon Frost and Blake Frost, and brother-in-law Bill Frost (Beth), and nephews Brian Frost and Sam Frost. He was predeceased by his father, Malcolm Rosenberg, and his aunt, Mildred Ann Rosenberg. The challenges of this past year had one bright silver lining: Abby gave birth on March 11, 2020 to Rick’s first grandchild, Mattox, who adored his Papa.

We are deeply grateful to Dr. C. Ola Landgren, Alexis Folz, Donna Mastey, and Jodie Pindulac at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Dr. Allan H. Friedman, Dr. Annick Desjardins, Rosemary Ketring, and Elizabeth Evans at the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke Medical Center. Private services will be held. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Abigail F. Rosenberg Student Scholarship Fund at Hill Learning Center or the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke.  In honor of Rick’s love of the Tar Heels, you could also make a gift in Rick’s name to The Educational Foundation Scholarship Endowment in support of the Richard C. Rosenberg Scholarship at P.O. Box 2446 Chapel Hill, NC 27515 or by calling (919) 923-2246.