Richard Thomas Rosselli

Richard Thomas Rosselli, 56, of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, passed away unexpectedly on August 2, 2026, at UNC Hospital. Born on October 19, 1969, in New Haven, Connecticut, he was the youngest child of the late Dante and Josephine (Amaturo) Rosselli.

Richard is survived by his beloved wife of 22 years, Jinky (Ang) Rosselli; their children, Maxwell Ang Rosselli, Gabriella Josephine Ang Rosselli and dog, Lucy; his brother, Philip Rosselli (Maureen Butler); his sister, Gina Boswell (Randy), and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his oldest brother, Dante Anthony Rosselli (Greg Campora).

Raised in New Haven, Richard attended St. Aedan's School and Fairfield Preparatory School before earning his bachelor's degree from Boston University. He later received a Master of Public Health from Yale University, where he met the love of his life, Jinky. Their friendship grew into a marriage built on mutual respect, shared purpose, and an unwavering commitment to family.

In 2006, Richard and Jinky moved to Chapel Hill to pursue new career opportunities and to be closer to the Ang and Chua families. Welcomed with open arms, by their NC family, they built a home filled with love, laughter, and music.

Richard dedicated his career to advancing public health through applied research. He worked for the New York City Department of Health, the University of North Carolina- Public Health Institute, and later the CDC Foundation. His work supported critical public health responses following the September 11 attacks and the anthrax investigations, as well as pandemic influenza, avian influenza, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout his career, he remained deeply committed to improving the health and well-being of communities through thoughtful public health practice.

Music was one of Richard's greatest passions. A self-taught pianist, he began formal classical and jazz piano lessons during COVID and devoted himself to learning the instrument traditionally. His dedication eventually led to performing in piano recitals, showing his perseverance and his willingness to embrace new challenges. Together, Richard and Jinky fostered a love of music in their family and rarely missed an opportunity to attend their children's concerts, recitals, and performances. One of Richard's proudest moments was seeing Max (trombone) and Ella (violin) perform together with the Duke Youth Symphony. He was also a big fan of his wife’s local community orchestra, the Durham Medical Orchestra.

For Richard and Jinky, exploring the world has always been a shared passion, whether they were discovering a local restaurant, enjoying a classical music concert, or mapping out their next family adventure. Over the years, their children's musical talents have taken them all over the United States and Europe. Most recently, the entire family traveled to Japan to celebrate a special milestone: Ella’s graduation.

Richard shared a unique bond with each of his children. He coached Maxwell in Little League, helping instill a lifelong love of baseball and the New York Yankees. As Max's interests evolved, Richard became one of his biggest supporters in music as well, developing a deep appreciation for classical, jazz and taking pride in every performance.

With Ella, Richard delighted in the traditions that became uniquely theirs. They searched out the best boba shops wherever they traveled, enjoyed watching horror movies together, and loved discovering all genres of music, often laughing as their Spotify playlists slowly became more alike over the years.

Those who knew Richard will remember his kindness, curiosity, encyclopedic knowledge of trivia, quick wit, creativity, and generosity. He welcomed learning, thoughtful conversation, and had a gift for making people laugh. He was also incredibly proud of his children's academic achievements, with Max entering his senior year at Duke University and Ella beginning at Yale in the fall.

Above all, Richard was a devoted husband and father. Together, he and Jinky created a home grounded in the values they both cherished: family, music, curiosity, kindness, and service to others. He celebrated every milestone, encouraged every interest, and quietly gave his time and love to the people who mattered most. His humor, wisdom, compassion, and steadfast presence will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

Family and friends are invited to pay their respects during visiting hours on Friday, August 7, 2026, from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. at Hall-Wynne Funeral Home, 1113 W. Main Street, Durham, North Carolina.

A prayer service will be celebrated on Saturday, August 8, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at Hall-Wynne Funeral Home, 1113 W. Main Street, Durham, North Carolina.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to, the American Heart Association, the Alzheimer's Foundation of America, or the Humane Society.