He covered the Boston Bruins during their Stanley Cup championships in 1970 and 1972, and was considered "one of the family" by team general manager Harry Sinden.

[1] Rosa received the Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award in recognition of his journalism from the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1987.

[2] Rosa was the youngest child of five, was a paperboy as a youth, and began working with The Boston Globe as a copy boy in the sports department prior to World War II.

His promotion was covered in a story in The Boston Globe, which noted he was assigned to write about the completion of the Alaska Highway for an army publication.

He worked part-time at The Boston Globe as a student, and wrote a story in July 1948 about Ted Williams telephoning best wishes to a dying Babe Ruth.

[1] Journalist Kevin Dupont wrote that Rosa built relationships with athletes and gained their trust and respect.

"[1] Rosa was reported by colleagues at The Boston Globe to dress dapper, be unflappable, and finish the night with a post-game Scotch whisky.