Obituary: Robert Rosenthal

Robert Rosenthal, 96, resident of Plymouth Harbor, died Jan. 8.

Mr. Rosenthal was a graduate of the University of Illinois, where he majored in political science and met his wife, Mildred.

Mr. Rosenthal founded the R.H. Roberts Construction Co. in 1952 and served as its president and CEO until his retirement in 1980. His detailed approach made him one of the most sought contractors among Chicago’s top architects. He won the Distinguished Building Award from the Chicago chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) multiple times, as well as the AIA’s Award of Merit for contemporary homes and commercial properties.

Mr. Rosenthal served on many boards, including Technion, the Israel Institute for Technology and the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs. In Florida, he helped the Catholic Diocese of Venice launch a program for children living in migrant work camps, worked on the Catholic-Jewish studies at St. Leo University and served as chairman of Longboat Key’s Code and Enforcement Board. He loved boating with the Coast Guard Auxiliary and the Sarasota Power Squadron.

His philanthropic endeavors included the Robert and Mildred Rosenthal Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship Fund, the Robert and Mildred Rosenthal Aerospace Engineering Research Fund, at Technion and the Robert and Mildred Rosenthal Cardiology Research Fund, at the University of Chicago.
Mr. Rosenthal was preceded in death by his wife, Mildred.

He is survived by his daughters, Nancy Goodman and Diane Rosenthal; four grandchildren; and nine great-granchildren.

A memorial reception was held Jan. 12, at Plymouth Harbor. Memorial contributions may be made to the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary and Sarasota Power Squadron.