Eugene Rosenthal

Eugene “Yaney� “Dad� “Poppi� Rosenthal August 5, 1914 ~ April 19, 2006 WEST LOS ANGELES - Eugene “Yaney� Rosenthal, 91, born on August 5, 1914 in Pittsburgh, PA, died peacefully at home in Los Angeles with his children by his side on April 19, 2006. He was the son of Joseph and Rae Rosenthal; brother to Mildred Smoller and Mort Schreiber; husband to Lucille R. Rosenthal who predeceased him four months ago; father to Richard H. and Susan J. Rosenthal, and their spouses, and grandfather “Poppi� to Jennifer S. and Daniel E. Rosenthal and Gina Walters. Gene graduated from Taylor Alderdice High School. He was awarded a football scholarship to Carnegie Institute of Technology where he earned a B.A. Degree in Engineering. He was All-City Football and Basketball Player in High School and winner of the Western PA Jr. Olympics. He was a varsity football, basketball, and tennis player at Carnegie Tech for three years. He also ran track and boxed. He was inducted into the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame of Western PA in 1987. Gene was an accomplished saxophone and clarinet player and played in local bands. Gene married Lucille Mendoza in 1943. He enlisted in the Navy and attained the rank of Lt. Commander on the Hogarth Bay Air Craft Carrier. After the war, he and Lucille settled in the San Fernando Valley. He started and operated many businesses, settling into real estate finance in the 60's and motion picture exhibition in 70's and 80's. His wife, children, grandchildren and extended family were the crowning glory of his life. He enjoyed a rich and dynamic married life to Lucille for 63 years. Gene kept growing and changing, becoming a peer counselor to seniors later in life, studying Hebrew and Torah, continuing to have fun with the clarinet and saxophone, and beating everyone on the tennis court. Gene and Lucille enjoyed traveling and took many family trips. Unanimously considered as “one of a kind� and everyone's favorite surrogate dad, his family and friends felt his genuine interest in how and what they were doing. “Poppi's� unique capacity to love and accept people “as they were� are his eternal gifts to those who knew him. As a grandfather to Jennifer and Danny he was able to participate in their Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, school activities and little league. He was frequently seen at Carmel Valley Little League and Tularcitos Elementary School. The last six years he was an active participant in Opica Day Program in West Los Angeles. Just last month he was voted the “Most Loveable Member�.