Adam Sidney Rosenberg

Adam Sidney Rosenberg, 27, a San Diego humanitarian, actor, playwright, and community volunteer, was born July 8, 1998, in Riverside, Calif., and was taken by suicide September 24, 2025.

Adam graduated from the San Diego High Baccalaureate Program and earned their degree from Pomona College. A devout thespian, writer,and emerging playwright, Adam performed Shakespeare with the San Diego Junior Theatre and launched an award-winning Improv Club at SDSU In spring 2023 thier first play was performed at San Diego City College.

Adam also expressed their gift for connection through hospitality, working front of house in restaurants across San Diego, including, Bread & Cie, which in Adam's opion set the high standard for employee care and customer service. With easy grace they made you feel like you mattered, it was never just a job, it was care.

Service was central to Adam’s life, volunteering with Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank, Father Joe’s Villages, JITLI -see Adam's review (jitli.org/jitli-stories/jitli-2015-san-diego-participant-adam-rosenberg), Mt Hope Community Gardens, and Restore Justice, an outreach for people who are incarcerated.

From 2023 to 2025, Adam lived in their dream city, Chicago, serving guests at José Andrés’ Jaleo and then Wildfire Chicago. An advocate of human rights, joining Restore Humanity, a food distribution to people in custody. Adam loved long walks, dark chocolate, cafés, creative writing, live theater, and time and laughter with friends. Friends remember a listener who turned compassion into action and made space for everyone at the table.

Adam also lived with a serious, recurring mental illness —intractable depression. Over a decade, Adam pursued cure with conviction and courage—including countless medication regimens, inpatient and outpatient programs, electromagnetic and electroconvulsive therapies, and ketamine treatments—constantly reaching for connection and for a viable future. In August, Adam experienced their first bipolar episode. This illness was medical, never moral; one fought with bravery and hope.

Adam is survived by parents, Larry and Cynthia; brother Seth; sister Sarah; nieces Virginia, nephews August, Grayson, and Caleb; Aunt Janet and Gunkle Arnie; and extensive network of family and friends. Adam will be remembered for much, but above all, kindness, non-judgemental, empathy, and love.

Support for the Adam Rosenberg Bridge to Mental Wellness Initiative (in progress)

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