Eugene Jordan Rose

12/12/1955 - 09/22/2025

December 12, 1953 – September 22, 2025
Eugene Jordan "Gene" Rose, aged 71, of Fairfax Station, VA, passed away from ALS, peacefully at home, surrounded by family on September 22, 2025.
Gene was born on December 12, 1953 in Rockville, Maryland to Mary Margaret "Mitzi" and Richard Jordan "Dick" Rose, the fourth of six children. He graduated from Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville, MD and matriculated from the University of Maryland at College Park in 1974 (go Terps!). After graduation, Gene joined the United States Peace Corps and spent four years in Nepal teaching math and science in the village of Chuhandada, where he made many lifelong friends. After returning from his Peace Corps service, Gene met Barbara Marie Goyer at the Defense Mapping Agency, where they both worked as cartographers. They married in 1982. Together they settled in Burke, VA, where they raised three children: Jean "Jeannie," Robert, and Patricia "Patty."
Gene had a prolific career as a software engineer and photogrammetrist, building advanced satellite geospatial data processing and imaging systems. He was highly respected in his field and presented at multiple national-level scientific conferences. He retired in 2023, and his software continues to be used worldwide today.
Gene was an active community member, known as "Mr. Rose" to his students in the Catholic Charities Workforce Development and Citizenship Program, CCD, and as a coach for his children's sports teams. In retirement, he had time to pursue his hobbies, and was an active member of the Northern Virginia Hiking Club and the Northern Virginia Astronomy Club. He also volunteered with the American Red Cross, deploying to Florida, Texas, and Georgia after hurricanes in 2023 and 2024. In 2023 he returned to Chuhandada, Nepal with his children and niece, where he was honored for the lasting impact he made on the village. Friends and family will remember his wry sense of humor, generosity, and willingness to help in all things.
Gene is survived by his wife of 43 years, Barbara, his children Jeannie Rose (Jasper Cooke), Robert Rose, and Patty Rose, his granddaughters Cecilia and Giselle Cooke, his siblings Carla Hundy (Pete Buranich), Julie Bobrow (Michael), and Craig Rose (d. Maria Elena), and dozens of nieces, nephews, and grand nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Mitzi and Dick, his brothers David and Scott Rose, and his sister-in-law Del Rose.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, October 1, 2025 at 10 a.m. at Nativity Catholic Church, 6400 Nativity Lane, Burke, Virginia. Inurnment will be at Fairfax Memorial Park.
The family wishes to thank Paragon Home Care for their constant 24/7 support and Capital Caring Health Hospice. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the ALS Association or Live Like Lou Foundation to support continued research for a cure for ALS.