Dr. Elliot Gerald Rose

Dr. Elliot Gerald Rose passed away surrounded by his family on Sunday afternoon, January 26, 2020, at the age of 72, after a long and difficult battle with prostate cancer. In later years, he was affectionately known simply as “Pop,” as this was the name used by his six grandchildren.

Elliot was born May 8, 1947, in Philadelphia, PA, to Harry Archibald Rose and Anna Katzman Rose. He spent his youth playing stick ball and wire ball in the city streets of Philadelphia’s row houses, along with his older brother, Herbert Saul Rose. As children, Elliot and Herb worked in the family business, selling shoes at Rose’s Shoe Store after school and on the weekends. The store was open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week, and in 1955 was one of the first stores on the block to install commercial air conditioning. Elliot watched his parents work long hours day after day in retail sales and decided “there had to be a better way.” Fortunately, his parents, like him, emphasized education (something they did not have), and he earned an economics degree from Temple University in 1969 and then a DPM from Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine in 1973. During podiatry school, he often visited his retired parents in Miami, FL, where he met his wife, Laura Christine Green. The two married and moved to Anaheim, CA, where Elliot completed his residency.

To decide where to set up his new podiatry practice, Elliot went to the public library (which, at the time, maintained city phonebooks) and researched which southern, mid-sized city had the fewest podiatrists per-capita. Shortly thereafter, Elliot and Laura were bound for Chattanooga, TN, a city neither of them knew anything about. Elliot was always friendly and welcoming to everyone, which allowed his new practice to flourish. Within a year of practice, a retiring podiatrist gave (not sold) his entire practice, equipment, etc. to Elliot, who spent the next 30 years serving those patients six days a week until 2008, when he retired. Elliot proudly served patients from all walks of life, and he often took payment in pies or tomatoes from patients who could not pay otherwise (although, if the procedure was painful, he made his children try the pies first).

Elliot was married to his wife, Laura Rose, for over thirty years, and although they divorced, they remained close friends for the rest of Elliot’s life. Elliot and Laura had three sons together, of whom Elliot was extremely proud—Richard Rose (Christin), Joseph Rose, and Kevin Rose (Cassandra). The single greatest joy of Pop’s life, however, was his six grandchildren, who he lamented leaving above all else. Pop had a very different next ten years planned, involving visiting with James (25) when he returned home from the Navy, and attending Cole (12), Eli (11), Asa (8), Eliza (5), and Zane’s (3) football, basketball, and soccer games, as well as plays, recitals, and activities. However, he cherished each moment he had with them.

Pop was gentle, frugal, and generous with his love and time for his family. He was a lifelong lover of the Philadelphia Eagles (and all professional sports teams in Philadelphia) and maintained an inexplicable hatred for the Dallas Cowboys. He was always an hour early for any gathering, and he followed only the rules he thought were important, which were few (the grandkids loved Pop’s “whatever you want” babysitting style). His desire for his grandchildren to receive the best education possible never wavered, and he continually encouraged his children to make this desire a reality. He will be missed always, but mostly during family get-togethers, birthday parties, college football season, and beach trips.

The last months of Elliot’s life were improved remarkably by the excellent, kind, and dignified care he received from the Life Care Center of Ooltewah staff (Ginger, Misty, Angie, Jon, Sam, Ashley, and too many other kind people to name), as well as Isaac of Hearth Hospice. These dedicated healthcare providers were beside his bed until the end, and their kindness will never be forgotten.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, February 2, 2020, at Chattanooga Funeral Home, East Brainerd Chapel, followed by a Celebration of Life Service beginning at 4:00 p.m. at the same location.

Please share your memories of Elliot with the family at:

www.chattanoogaeastbrainerdchapel.com.

Arrangements are by the East Brainerd Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, 8214 E. Brainerd Rd., Chattanooga, TN 37421.