Howard J Rosenthal

Howard (Howie) Rosenthal shuffled off this mortal coil on June 5, 2025, in Wayne, NJ. He was born in Brookline, Massachusetts in 1940, the son of Ethel and Dave, and earned a Business degree from Boston University before moving to New Jersey to begin his long career in the insurance industry. He never quite lost his Boston accent or his love of New England despite more than sixty years living in the Garden State.

Despite a carefully curated reputation as a curmudgeon, Howie was open-minded and deeply curious about people and the world, regularly asked strangers where they were from, and always remembered their names. People-watching was his favorite sport, from sidewalk cafés in Rome to the benches on Church Street in Montclair. He loved folk and blues music, attended modern dance concerts at the Joyce Theater in Chelsea, and had an eye for modern art and furniture.

His last years were quite likely his happiest, spending time with his dear departed Geri Wilson and her family while living on the golf course at Bowling Green in Oak Ridge and then at Cedar Crest in Pompton Plains. When he could no longer swing a 9-iron, he indulged in philosophy and film classes at Montclair State, participated eagerly in current events discussion groups, cleaned up at the poker and Trivial Pursuit tables, and did his best to try as many restaurants, bakeries, and ice cream parlors as possible.

He loved and was loved greatly by his son Peter Rosenthal and daughter-in-law Connie Kolb who will miss their Sunday brunch routine with Howie, by his brother Jim Rosenthal and sister-in-law Marianne Panzini, niece Julie Rosenthal (Jeremy Sandmel) and nephew Mike and grand-nephew Levi Rosenthal, and equally by his wider chosen family, including the Edmonstons, the Leffermans, the Wilsons, and his many other dear friends.

Always plainspoken, Howie would surely agree with the sage advice of musician Warren Zevon: "enjoy every sandwich."

A Celebration of Life and Memorial Service will be held on Friday, July 18, 2025, from 11:00am-1:00pm at the Morrison Etheridge Funeral Home, 86 Bartholdi Ave, Butler, NJ.