Obituary: Dentist Martyn Rosa's patients included 49ers

Dr. Martyn Rosa, a dentist and sports fan who cared for the teeth of San Francisco 49ers as well as generations of Sacramento families, died Tuesday of pulmonary fibrosis, his family said. He was 73.

Born and raised in Sacramento, Dr. Rosa was prominent as a leader in community and professional groups and a dentist with a large family practice for almost five decades. At offices in midtown and Arden Arcade, he treated great-grandchildren of patients whom he first saw after getting his dental license in 1965. His son Jeffrey joined him as a dentist 11 years ago.

He belonged to the American Dental Association House of Delegates and was a leader in the California Dental Association and Sacramento District Dental Society. He was a chairman of the Dentists Insurance Co., a professional liability insurer for dentists, and served as an examiner for the California Board of Dentistry.

A jovial man who loved being with people, Dr. Rosa made many friendships while helping others in civic and social groups. He belonged to the Active 20/30 Club and was a lifetime member of the Elks. He was a Paul Harris Fellow in Rotary Club of Sacramento.

"He gave 100 percent to anybody he came in contact with," his son said. "If he joined an organization, he was a doer who got in there to help get things done."

Dr. Rosa was a treasurer and director of the Sutter Club. Members also named him entertainment chairman for his skill at organizing popular sporting events – including "Boxing Night" with matches between local amateurs in a makeshift ring on the roof of the group's downtown parking garage.

"Years ago, I actually owned a fighter," he told The Bee in 1998. "I put up a significant amount of money for his training and upkeep. Then I realized he wasn't very good. His problem was he kept getting knocked out."

Dr. Rosa was an officer and board member of Ducks Unlimited, Planned Parenthood and the Sacramento Jazz Foundation. As president of the local San Francisco 49ers Booster Club, he was asked to be the team's dentist at training camps in Rocklin in the 1970s and 1980s. He made mouth guards for players and treated emergencies on the sidelines at games, including Super Bowl victories.

Martyn Francis Rosa was born in 1939. He was one of four children raised by Mary and Manuel Rosa, who owned a box manufacturing company and were active in the Portuguese community.

He sold records at the original Tower Records store on Broadway and graduated from McClatchy High School. He was on the wrestling team at UC Davis and graduated from University of the Pacific School of Dentistry in San Francisco.

Dr. Rosa enjoyed hunting, traveling and spending time with his family, including skiing on weekends at a second home near Lake Tahoe. He had four children with his wife of 40 years, Karen. He was predeceased by two sons, Christian and Brian.

"His passions were family, dentistry and community," daughter-in-law Tamara Rosa said. "He was full of life."

DR. MARTYN ROSA

Born: April 5, 1939

Died: Feb. 26, 2013

Survived by: Wife, Karen of Sacramento; sons, Jeffrey of Sacramento, and Rick of Chico; brother, Manuel of Sacramento, and Michael of Emigrant, Mont.; sister, Mary Louise of Sacramento; and three grandchildren

Services: Rosary, 7 p.m. Tuesday, and funeral Mass, 10 a.m. Wednesday, at Sacred Heart Church, 1040 39th St., Sacramento

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