Glenside Professor, ALS Advocate, 'Hero To Many', Dies At 45

Image and obituary courtesy Freed Funeral Home

GLENSIDE, PA -- Raymond Wesley Rose, III of Glenside, PA. passed away on January 3, 2018 at the age of 45.

Wes will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 19 years, Kelly Herbert Rose of Boyertown, PA and his children, Nathan (16) and Aidan (13). Wes will also be fondly remembered by his parents, Raymond and Nancy Rose, and his siblings Andrew (Stacey) and Rebecca Rose.

Wes was a graduate of Abington High School in 1990, Franklin and Marshall College in 1994 with a BA in Biology, Thomas Jefferson University in 1998 with an MS in Biomedical Chemistry, and the University of Pennsylvania in 2003 with a Doctor of Philosophy, Major in Biology.

He then went on to do post-doctoral training at the Fox Chase Cancer Center. He was a passionate educator and associate professor of biology at Arcadia Univeristy where he was a teacher, mentor, and scholar. Wes was nominated and awarded the 2011 Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching by his students.

Wes was a former Deacon and active member of Carmel Presbyterian Church. He was an active Board Member of the Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the ALS Association where he focused on advocacy, fundraising for basic research and fought to support other patients and their families.

Wes was a loving and supportive husband, an amazing son and brother and proud father of his boys. Wes was determined to live each day despite the diagnosis of ALS for over 12 years. He wanted to make a positive difference at work, in his community, with his family and in the lives of other people living with ALS. He was a hero and role model to many.