“Whatever you do, do it well” and “Choose your friends wisely” were two pieces of advice that Terry Rose’s father gave him before he moved to Silicon Valley from the Midwest in 1965. These simple, yet wise, words proved to be invaluable in helping him launch a successful career in the real estate development business.
Terry initially became a commercial real estate broker, and three short years later, he started his own development company. While there were many up and downs in the economy and in the industry, Terry built a highly successful company with an impeccable reputation. Nearly 50 years later, his firm has developed several million square feet of commercial real estate in the Santa Clara and Livermore valleys.
Today, at age 79, Terry still puts in a full day’s work, yet focuses on spending time with his wife Trudy giving back to the communities where he works and lives. “Silicon Valley has been very good to us and we feel very fortunate – that’s something we want to share,” he says.
When Terry and his wife were introduced to the Fogarty Institute and visited the Fog Shop, he says that they “were very impressed by what we saw. We were completely unaware of the many unmet healthcare needs that are impacting so many people worldwide.”
The couple was particularly interested in the technology developed by InPress, which is creating a simple, effective device to stop postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), the leading cause of maternal death globally, which takes the life of one woman every four minutes.
The Roses made a donation to the Fogarty Institute to support its programs and invested in InPress, embracing its vision to eradicate PPH globally. “We donate and invest where we think we can make a difference,” he says, adding that their goal is to help those doing important work and facilitate their path. “InPress is working on a major breakthrough, a technology that will save millions of lives, so it was an easy choice for us.”
The Roses have been involved in many charities over the years including donating to San Jose State’s athletic department, the Boy Scouts, the YMCA and several healthcare organizations and companies. In their spare time, they devote time to their church as well as enjoying outdoor activities such as flying Terry’s airplane and playing golf. Terry and Trudy spend about four months a year at their home in Hawaii on the Big Island.