Sandra Brener Rosenthal

1936 - 2024

Sandra Brener Rosenthal died on July 22 at her home in Denver. She will be forever remembered as a trailblazer, a gifted and world-renowned philosopher, and a proud and loving matriarch. Sandra was born in New Orleans in 1936, the youngest daughter of the late Rose and Sol Brener. Sandra graduated top of her class from Alcée Fortier High School and earned numerous college scholarships, which-much to the dismay of her mother-she turned down to marry and move to France with her high school sweetheart, United States Air Force Lieutenant Stan Rosenthal. After returning to Louisiana, Stan encouraged Sandra to enroll in college. After taking her first course in logic, Sandra was hooked. She graduated first in her class from Newcomb College and immediately began her graduate studies at Tulane. Fueled by determination, discipline, and unquestionable brilliance, Sandra completed her bachelor's, master's, and Doctor of Philosophy in just four and a half years-all while raising two young children at home. She went on to teach philosophy at Loyola University of New Orleans for over three decades, where she served as the Provost Distinguished Professor of Philosophy and became the University's first ever female tenured full professor. Over the course of her esteemed and accomplished career, Sandra published 12 books and more than 150 scholarly articles, including the internationally acclaimed book Speculative Pragmatism. She also served as President of the Society for the Advancement of American Philosophy and was invited to give lectures in cities across the United States and around the world, including Beijing, Moscow, Rome, Helsinki, Berlin, Vienna, Istanbul, and Sao Paolo. At home, Sandra was "Mom", loved not for her professional achievements but rather for her sharp wit, radiant smile, penchant for corny puns, terrible sense of direction, and sage advice. Sandra was lucky to find great love twice in her life. After losing Stan when she was just 54, Sandra met and married business ethics professor Rogene Buchholz, with whom she enjoyed more than 30 years of travel, hiking, professional collaboration, and loving companionship. She loved great red wine, whodunnits, and gathering with four generations of family over Thanksgiving dinner every year. Sandra is survived by her husband, Rogene; her son Stephen (Sandy) Rosenthal; her daughter Leslie (Scott) Jacobs; grandchildren Lauren, Aliisa, Mark, Michelle, and Stanford; great-grandchildren Levi, Ellie, Lily, Jackson, Molly, and Brenner; and many nieces and nephews. She is predeceased in death by her husband Stanford, parents Rose and Sol Brener, brother Milton Brener, and sister Joyce Goldstein. She leaves behind indelible marks on the field of philosophy, Loyola University of New Orleans, and all who knew and loved her. May her memory be a blessing. A Celebration of Life will be held at 10am Sunday, July 28 at Temple Sinai. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Loyola University of New Orleans's General Scholarship Fund in honor of Sandra Brener Rosenthal. Donations can be made at spark.loyno.edu/tribute.