Alumni Spotlight: Chris Rosati B’94

As we honor the courageous men and women who have served our country this Veterans Day, we caught up with Chris to learn more about his experiences at Bellarmine and his service in the United States Air Force.

How did your time at Bellarmine shape who you are today?

It's pretty simple, Bellarmine attracts people that care. 

The staff cares - they could earn greater salaries in the public school system or in the private sector. 

Parents care - they sacrifice time and money so their children will be surrounded by those who care and grounded in Bellarmine’s Jesuit values. 

Students care - they want to better themselves as well as their classmates and strengthen their relationship with God. Students could skate by and attend a less demanding school and participate in fewer extracurricular activities. 

 

Ultimately, Bellarmine consists of a community that cares about others and the world around them.

 

The Academy’s classes were small, 20 or so students in a classroom. The faculty cares about the success of their students because they are going to lead the next generation’s military much in the same way Bellarmine students go out into the world and lead in their communities. The friendships I formed at Bellarmine are as strong as the bonds that I formed at the Academy, and that says a lot. Bellarmine taught me to pick others up when they fall and that if I fail or fall that someone will be there to help me. For some reason the story of the Good Samaritan always resounded with me. The Air Force Academy always emphasized the importance of being there for your wingman, much like the stranger in the Good Samaritan was there for his fellow man. The military isn’t really allowed to favor a specific religion but they do encourage faith to get you through tough times.

 

Being men and women for others is everything. It’ll get you out of any despair and keep you from getting too egotistical. To live is to suffer, and our one goal as human beings is to alleviate the suffering of others. If we have the resources and time to help others then that should be our calling. We come into this life with nothing and we leave with nothing. Our character and time is the only real currency we have. I’ve seen many impolite people at airports around the country.  Traveling can be difficult and people travel for fun, but they also travel because of tragedy. I almost always assume that's the case when dealing with an irate customer, and more often than not it IS the case. I’ve seen some of the kindest people too, many of my coworkers understand this and we work as a team to help our customers through a tough time. Everyone is kind, considerate and patient until they are not. Don’t let others dictate that time to you.

 

Three notable teachers were Mr. Zanchi, Italian teacher, Mrs. Matthew (I knew her as Ms Hussey) and Mr. Haase, my wrestling coach and work-study boss. Mr. Zanchi was always cheering me on even if I wasn't giving it my all. He always had a big smile and would lift me up if I was having a rough day. Mrs. Matthew put up with my not so normal way of thinking but encouraged me to express myself in a format I wanted, usually not so politically correct videos. Mr. Haase taught me work ethic - I never feared him, but I did fear letting him down. I despised wrestling, but figured I needed to participate in something. Mr. Haase made me respect the sport and the demanding physical trials. He also made me wrestle females, not a normal occurrence back then, which greatly built up my character and taught me humility.

What advice would you give to current students who are interested in pursuing a career in the military?
The military is an awesome calling. You are serving others around the world. 75% of the missions I flew were medical or humanitarian in nature. You see a lot of ugliness when traveling in war zones but you see a lot of beauty in your fellow man when aiding others. You may be called to follow an order that you don’t necessarily agree with but your Jesuit education will guide you through tough times. The military seeks people like Bellarmine graduates, that know the difference between right and wrong and will speak up when an injustice occurs. In fact the Air Force core values mirror closely the Jesuit values. They are: Integrity First, Service before Self, Excellence in all we do. 

The real question is how haven’t they? My children, Clara and Anna, are current students. I rely on their friendships with other students to get them through challenging times since I'm no longer the focal point in their lives. I've even given a "wingman" speech or two to their friends emphasizing that they need to look out for each other when venturing into the wild. Kelly Rosati B’95, is my wife and faculty member, and I couldn't do what I do without her love and support.  The same care she gives me is the same care she gives to every student that walks through her door in ACE at Bellarmine. My best friends here in Tacoma are all Bellarmine graduates. I keep in touch with my military friends, but they are dispersed throughout the world. When I need help or a pick me up, I know I always have my fellow Bellarmine graduates to lean on!