Milton E. Rosenthal

Milton E. Rosenthal of Randolph passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at 93 years of age. Son of the late Kathryn (Ring) and Morris Rosenthal. Loving husband of the late Willa Ruth (Meyerhoff) Rosenthal. Beloved father of Jamie Normandeau and her husband Kevin of Hopkinton; Matthew Rosenthal and his wife Jennifer of Newton; and predeceased by son Marc Jeffrey. Cherished grandfather of Joshua Normandeau (28), Justin Normandeau (25), Arni Rosenthal (15), and Capri Rosenthal (12). Brother of the late Dr. Bernard Rosenthal.

Milton was born in Boston on January 14, 1933. He grew up on Hyde Park Avenue and attended Boston Latin School. Milton received his B.A. and M.A. degrees in Science from Boston University and attended the Harvard University Graduate Teaching Newton Summer Program in mathematics. He began his professional life as a research assistant, working on a U.S. Public Health Service grant at Boston University Biological Research Laboratories. He then spent the next 40 years teaching primarily science and some math in the Newton Public Schools. Milton spent 36 of those years at Bigelow Middle School, where coincidentally two of his grandchildren attend/attended. He also coached tennis there. Upon retirement, he authored and published Reality 101: What It’s Really Like to be a Teacher…And Teach Too (Scarecrow Press, 2003).

Milton married Willa, a French and Spanish teacher, in 1962, and they shared a wonderful life together until Willa’s passing in 2021. Through the years, they traveled to many countries together, including Israel, Mexico, France, Italy, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Aruba. They raised their children in Randolph, where Milton continued to live independently into his 90s.

Milton loved to keep active in and out of his house. He regularly tinkered with home maintenance projects, landscaping, and other household chores. He drove to the gym, the Senior Center, and his synagogue regularly into his 90s, always taking time to chat with others. Occasionally Milt would relax to read, watch a ball game, or go fishing.

What gave Milton the most joy these later years were his four grandchildren. He loved hearing about the details of their lives, and he attended as many sporting, academic, and musical events as possible. He shared meals, celebrations, and holidays with all his grandkids, and did his best to keep up with the latest technology and communication tools when not there in-person.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Graveside Funeral Service on Friday, July 3, 2026, at 11:45 AM at Sharon Memorial Park, 40 Dedham Street, Sharon. Please follow signs to Graveside Service which will lead you to the back of the administration building to line up for the burial.

Shiva will be held at Milton’s home following the funeral service from 1:30 to 3:30 PM.

Donations in Milton’s memory may be made to the Newton Schools Foundation Honor Thy Teacher program: https://newtonschoolsfoundation.org/honor-thy-teacher/