David Burge

El Paso Times

Maj. Gen. John Rossi's death Sunday in Alabama sent shock waves of grief west to Fort Bliss and El Paso, where he had strong ties.

Rossi, who commanded the 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command and did seven tours at Fort Bliss, died Sunday at Redstone Arsenal, Ala., officials at the Alabama installation said.

Rossi, 55, was slated to become the commander of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command at Redstone Arsenal. He was in line to be promoted to lieutenant general.

The cause of death remains under investigation.

Richard Dayoub, president and chief executive officer for the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce, said he was deeply saddened by Rossi's death, calling him "not just a friend but family."

"He loved this community," Dayoub said. "He never forgot how good this community was to him. He always looked out for El Paso and Fort Bliss" wherever his career took him.

Dayoub said he and a handful of El Pasoans, including Gus Rodriguez, who is a fixture at Fort Bliss events, were planning to attend Rossi's change of command Tuesday at Redstone Arsenal.

"Shock is probably the best word," Dayoub said. "He was just so close to us all. He wasn't just another officer who did multiple tours at Fort Bliss. He was beloved by everyone in the community. His wife Liz and their children are in our prayers."

Rossi most recently served as the commanding general for the U.S. Army Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill, Okla. He left that position in late July to go to Redstone Arsenal.

Rossi served as the commander of the 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command at Fort Bliss from March 2011 to July 2012.

Rossi, a native of Long Island, N.Y., met his wife, Liz, a native El Pasoan, at the Luby’s in the Chelmont area of Central El Paso in 1983. They were married in 1984. The couple had three children and one grandchild.

Rossi called his time commanding the 32nd AAMDC the “pinnacle of his career” during an exit story with the El Paso Times in July 2012.

Retired Brig. Gen. Richard Behrenhausen, who lives in El Paso, called Rossi a "terrific general officer."

"This is a sad day for the Army," Behrenhausen said. "Over the course of his career, he made many important contributions to training and life at Fort Bliss."

Col. Alan Wiernicki, the former commander of the 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade and current deputy commander with the 32nd AAMDC, said he had "infinite respect for General Rossi as a leader and mentor."

"He loved the Army, and he and his wife set such an amazing example with their family," Wiernicki said. "The sudden loss of such an incredible man is just devastating."

After leaving Fort Bliss for the last time in 2012, Rossi served as the director of the Army Quadrennial Defense Review Office in Washington, D.C., before going to Fort Sill.

His awards included three Distinguished Service Medals, five Legion of Merits and two Bronze Stars. He was a 1983 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy.

David Burge may be reached at 546-6126; dburge@elpasotimes.com; @dburge1962 on Twitter.