Gary Bruce Rosson

Dr. Gary Bruce Rosson, 73, of Mebane passed away on November 5, 2025 after a short but courageous and decisive battle with cancer.

He was born to Clarence Upton Rosson and Margaret Knighting Rosson in Fredericksburg, VA on February 18, 1952.

After graduation from Madison County High School in 1970, he attended Virginia Tech for two years followed by employment with the Virginia Department of Transportation. He volunteered with the Madison Co. EMS and Fire Departments. His contacts with other emergency service departments expanded when he joined the Motorola Corporation where he matched emerging radio technology with first responders' needs.

He cared for his father through cancer in the late 1980s and then refocused his career path by returning to VA Tech, graduating in 1995 with a BS in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. He then pursued studies in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Medical University of South Carolina (Charleston) and achieved his PhD in 2000.

He continued his cancer research by investigating a highly malignant pediatric cancer at the UNC Lineberger Cancer Center in Chapel Hill under the guidance of Dr. Bernard Weissman.

He met his beloved wife Robin in 2005, and they married with full knowledge of her breast cancer diagnosis. He adopted her two young sons, Paul and Ryan, and shepherded the family through a five year cancer journey which ended for Robin in October 2010. He was awarded the Susan G. Komen Co-Survivor Award in 2011 by the NC Triangle Komen Race for the Cure. He has remained faithful to his promise to raise their sons throughout the fifteen years since her passing.

In June 2018, he retired from cancer research as manager of the UNC Translational Genomics Laboratory. Following retirement, he quickly grew bored, which propelled him to earn his real estate license and also develop a drone flying business. He continued both these pursuits until his cancer diagnosis in August 2025.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Robin (Field) Rosson.

He is survived by his sons Paul Fox of Chapel Hill, Ryan Fox of Mebane, and his sister Margaret Ann Sacra (wife Cindy) of Ruther Glen, VA. He also left behind many loving cousins, and his wife's extended family.

Gary's caring nature and interest in helping people extends to his long standing men's group, his great neighbors, colleagues, and friends too numerous to count. Many thanks to the compassionate care provided by the UNC Hospice Services team!

A memorial service will be held in Burlington, NC at St. Mark's Church on Tuesday November 18, 2025 at 1 pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Care Team at St. Mark's Church in Burlington, NC.