Marcus Rosenthal

July 20th, 1919 – Sept 2nd, 2010

Just saying his name makes me want stand up a little taller and also makes me want to smile. When I think of my father and the impact that he had on everyone that he met, I am first and foremost proud to be his daughter.

He had a amazing life spanning 10 decades – and at 91, he left us but he left us with so many memories, stories, and life lessons . He was born in Philadelphia to Isadore and Bess Rosenthal and had 3 siblings, Sig, Etta, and Josephine. Soon the family moved to Atlantic City NJ. My father grew on during the Great depression in Atlantic City and sold apples on the street corner to help support the family. He later got a job booking entertainment acts on the Steel Pier…somehow he always managed to be where the action was! That continued when he enlisted in the Army during WWII. He was ready to go to war in front line but just at the last moment, there was a need for someone who knew Gregg Shorthand and my dad was literally pulled off a bus. He was questioned about his stenographic skills, made a non-commissioned officer on the spot and landed a job as Chief Warrant officer and assistant to General Hap Arnold. This is what his role was to be in WWII and he traveled with the General throughout Europe.

When the war ended he moved to Los Angeles and landed a job in the Marketing and Advertising dept of a large wine and spirits importing company. As you can imagine, visiting bars and nightclubs to ensure his brands got shelf space was quite an adventure…he was a confirmed bachelor living on Santa Monica Blvd but then he met Janet Jacobson on a blind date – that was it!! He was ready to trade his bachelor life for married life with his beautiful soul mate – my mom . So, he was age 38, he married my mom and the two of them hit the town and mingled with Hollywood stars and continued their night clubbing – this was part of his job too. They wanted children, and lots of them…but it took them a while. After 7 years of marriage Lisa was born in 1963 and then I came along 2 ½ years later. A year later, my dad’s company moved it’s corporate headquarters to Madison Ave in Manhattan and the family moved to the East coast…we settled in Bergen County NJ so my dad could easily hop a bus and get to Madison avenue! We made many trips to the city from NJ and visited my dad at his office quite frequently. In 1973, his company again moved it’s corporate headquarters to Brickell Ave in Miami so it was time for us to move again…this time my dad found a beautiful condo for us on Key Biscayne…right on the beach…and he found his little piece of heaven – he always managed to land near the ocean. He continued excelling at his job in each new market - one of his great product promotional campaigns combined Miami Jai Alai and Lairds Apple Jack Wiskey – he came up with a drink and designed a glass to go with it – the drink was called the “Jai Jack” – it was a big hit!

He retired at a very early age but insisted on finding other business ventures and then ended up with Score Miami where he helped young business people with their marketing and advertising needs and provided guidance and support to anyone who needed it.

Dad and mom played tennis every weekend and dad walked the beach “to the light house and back” almost every morning. I remember taking that walk with him many times – that is where we talked about life, choices, history, and always his great reflections and sage advice.

My father encouraged me at early age to be fiercely independent and he always imparted his “wise owl” wisdom just at the right time and was always there when I needed him…he had a penchant for neatness and I remember many times when I wanted to sleep in (as most teenagers do) and he would come into my room and try to make my bed while I was still in it! I also remember that I was considered a bit of a “know it all” in high school but my friends quickly caught on that I was imparting knowledge and facts from my dad on a regular basis – only I didn’t always site my sources. My friends would say – did you learn that from your dad?? And the answer was most likely – yes!

As I think about the legacy that my father left, I can look at my own life and the lives of others that he impacted. He was there when many of my important decisions had to be made – where to go to college (UF – to pursue Veterinary medicine). He drove me up to Gainesville to help me get moved in…and when I decided that organic chemistry was too hard, he was right there to guide me to pursue business and finance. When it was time to land a job, he flew with me to NY to interview at large Investment Banking houses – just at about the time that industry was imploding in the late ‘80s. He even went with me to pick out my interview suits. When I found out that I needed a Masters Degree to get into Investment banking, we turned back to UF to see what was available thru recruiting on campus. Citibank and I found each other during an on-campus recruiting day and I was called for a 2nd interview in Miami – and yes, my dad was right there with more advice and guidance. I had an offer from Suntrust and from Citi and I guess you know which way that went! My dad was proud of my career at Citibank and he always told me so. And I even met my wonderful husband Ron when I went to work for the bank.

His two grand daughters, Sammi and Nikki brought him great joy and he loved to play with them as they grew up – he was great with Barbies and building blocks and both girls always looked forward to spending time with their grandfather.

In conclusion…I remember some of the things my dad loved…

• Walking on the beach

• Playing tennis

• Making jokes and loving Henny Youngman and his “one liners” and watching Flip Wilson on TV

• Drinking Gin Martinis every evening before dinner – old school, no vermouth, no olives, just basically cold gin

• Listening to Louis Armstrong’s jazz saxaphone and Frank Sinatra records

• Relaxing on the balcony and listening to the ocean

• Eating tomatoes and trying to convince me that they were good!

• Spending time with my mom and his 2 daughters and his grand daughters

• Attending Christmas Eves at the Donofrio house – always lots of good things to eat!

Mostly I remember how much he loved my mom and my sister and I and our families and how much we loved him back. He will always be with me in my heart.

Thank you

Denise Rosenthal-Donofrio

Rosenthal, Marcus, 91, of Parkland, formerly of Key Biscayne, passed away September 2, 2010. He was born July 20, 1919 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to the late Harry and Bessie Cantor Rosenthal. He served his country honorably in the U.S. Army. Those left to cherish his memory are his loving wife, Janet, daughters, Denise Rosenthal-Donofrio, Lisa Lopez, sons-in-law, Ron donofrio, William Lopez, grandchildren, Nikki Donofrio, Samantha Figueredo and sister, Etta Weiss. The family will receive friend on Thursday, September 9, 2010, 5:00 - 8:00pm at Kraeer Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 1655 University Drive, Coral Springs where a Memorial Service will begin at 7:00pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made in Marcus's memory to Vital Hospice, www.vitascharityfund.org