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<em>Luigi Bellotti Rose</em> was born 11 Aug 1947 in Bloomington, IN, the only child of John Bowen Rose of Terre Haute, IN, and Franca Bellotti Rose of Gorizia, Italy. Not long after his birth, the Rose family moved to Albuquerque, NM. Luigi attended Bandelier Elementary School and Albuquerque High School, where he excelled in academics and was a standout lightweight wrestler. Luigi maintained a great love for New Mexico and his home city of Albuquerque and often spoke of them.</p>
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Luigi entered West Point directly from high school. Besides being one of the young­est in our class, he was also one of the short­est. His wrestler’s build and his mature, giv­ing approach to cadet life quickly overcame any perception of disadvantage. In fact, the roles Luigi accepted quickly established him as a man of great personal stature and ability. Luigi was active in Plebe wrestling and with the Rabble Rousers in his early cadet years, but it soon became evident that his greatest area of contribution would be academics and the application of his knowledge.</p>
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Brilliant and willing to study hard, Luigi was a perpetual Star Man who graduated in the top four percent of our class. What set him apart as a classmate and leader was his ever-present willingness to tutor those who needed assistance. If that meant staying up with a classmate until 0200, in the depths of the sinks below our old Central Area home, then that’s what Luigi did. He worked with you until you got it. The sight of Luigi walk­ing toward you with his books, in his B-robe and pipe, pushing his glasses up, meant you were going to get the help you needed to protect that next weekend leave or to avoid being “turned out” academically. His efforts as our academic leader were absolute, and he helped all who came to him. No doubt he would have graduated even higher in the class had he not been so giving to the rest of us. He was extraordinary in his generosity.</p>
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But he was so much more than our academic leader. Luigi enjoyed the time he allowed himself for fun and balance in his life. Adventure and cultural pursuits were an important part of his life. He was talented with music and had a very broad range of musical interests. He enjoyed dating, and his eventual relationship with his beloved Linda DiGerolamo from New Jersey be­came an important part of his cadet life. He was active in the Fine Arts Forum as a genuine student of the arts. He also was active in the Karate Club. Firstie year he bought a suped-up Chevelle Super Sport. He was the “whole man” the Academy likes to talk about, doing everything well and learning as he went along his journey.</p>
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Luigi chose the Corps of Engineers because he wanted to build things that mattered. After graduation he completed Airborne and moved on to Ranger School, earning his Ranger tab and the respect of his fellow Ranger students. He then advanced to Engineer Officer Basic and graduated in the top 20 percent of the class, making the Commandant’s List. His first perma­nent duty assignment was in Europe. Luigi worked hard and enjoyed touring when he could. On 3 Jul 1971, at the age of 23, Luigi was killed in a motorcycle accident while in England.</p>
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Those of us who knew Luigi felt that he was the one who would go on to build great things and spread his knowledge widely. We were stunned by his premature loss and con­tinue to grieve for what the world was not to receive from this amazing man of such great stature and brilliance.</p>
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<em>—From his classmates</em></p>