Martin Rosenthal

Martin Rosenthal Passed peacefully on September 16, 2010 after a period of declining health. A lifelong San Franciscan, Marty grew up valuing hard work balanced by a wonderful sense of playfulness. An avid ice skater as a young man, his favorite job as a youth was an ice guard at Sutros Bathhouse where he was able to combine his love of skating with a job he enjoyed. Marty graduated from George Washington High School in 1953. He attended University of Colorado at Boulder where he met Bette, just two weeks into their freshman year. They married their senior year. After they graduated, Marty and Bette, moved to California where they raised their three children. Marty was a pharmacist by trade. He owned his own pharmacy, Bemar Rexall, for many years prior to working for independent stores and Walgreens. A lover of the outdoors, Marty enjoyed hunting, fishing , camping and waterskiing. He loved sharing these interests with family and friends. Many summers were spent teaching countless people how to water ski behind the familys speedy red boat. Later on, Marty and Bette would most often be found at Sierra Point Yacht Club where they shared their love of boating with family and friends. Any guest on their Grand Banks, Poquito, was treated to a wonderful ride on the bay, delicious food often prepared by Marty and lots of fun and laughter. In addition, Marty loved his show cars. He found great pleasure in entering various cars in shows throughout the years, including his Shelby, Kurtis and his Alfa Romeo. He won many trophies and enjoyed countless hours of car talk. He was an involved member of the NCKCC. He also had a lifelong passion for building. Model boats and airplanes were among his many projects, as were his construction of hydrofoils and even a motorized surfboard. When he had an idea he would figure out a way to make it work. An avid traveler, he and Bette shared many adventures together across the globe. His favorite trip was an African safari. Through his many photos, we see the beautiful countries, animals and people they met along the way. Hardworking, humorous, and incredibly kindhearted, Marty, a loving husband, brother, father, grandfather and friend, is survived by his wife of 54 years Bette Rosenthal, his sister Idell Weiss (Otto), his children Julie Rosenthal, Linda Bryson (Rudy) and Sandi Pierce (Gary), and his grandchildren Brandon, Jessica, Andrew, Tito, Allen, Cydney and Morgan. A memorial service will be held at Hills of Eternity Chapel, 1301 El Camino Real in Colma on Friday, September 24, 2010 at 1:30pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the California Pacific Medical Center Building Fund, P.O. Box 45902, San Francisco, Ca. 94145, The Homeless Cat Network, P.O. Box 6, San Carlos, CA, 94070, or a charity of your choice.