Samuel Rothberg

PEORIA - Samuel Rothberg, 96, of Peoria, Ill., and Palm Springs, Calif., died Friday, July 6, 2007, at his home in Peoria.

He was born Dec. 15, 1910, in the Ukraine to Bertha and Morris Rothberg. On Dec. 26, 1941, he married Jean Culver of Canton, Ill.

He is survived by his wife and best friend of 65 years, Jean; and one brother, Joseph Rothberg of St. Louis, Mo. Also surviving are his four children, Michael (Amy) Rothberg of California, Patrick Rothberg of Illinois, Kathy (Brian) Barnett of Illinois, and Heidi Rothberg of Colorado. In addition there are five grandchildren, Rebecca (Ron) Huddleston and Nina Rothberg of California and Amanda, Lucy and Katie Barnett of Illinois; as well as 10 nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Harry Rothberg; and his sisters, Chickie Shmerelson and Anne Wildstein.

Sam came to this country with his family in 1913 and grew up in Philadelphia, Pa. He graduated in 1931 from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science with a degree in bacteriology. That same year, he was hired by the American Commercial Alcohol Corp. to do research in fermentation. Following Prohibition, the company became the American Distilling Co. Sam moved to Pekin, and then Peoria, to reactivate the distillery in Pekin. He quickly rose to a senior executive position that he held until retirement in 1975.

In 1947, Sam spent 10 weeks in Europe visiting the remnant of the Jewish people in concentration camps and displaced person centers, where he saw first-hand the devastation of the Holocaust. This became a major turning point in his life. He vowed to never let this happen again and dedicated the rest of his life to the new state of Israel.

Over the next five decades he raised funds, developed economic programs and helped expand higher education in Israel. In 1951, he was one of the founders of Israel Bonds, conceived as a new way to raise capital for economic development. For thirteen years, 1968 to 1981, he held the post of Chairman of the International Board of Governors of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, overseeing a period of unprecedented expansion. Some of the projects he helped establish were the Harry S. Truman Center for the Advancement of Peace and the Golda Meir Fellowship Awards.

Sam developed and endowed the Rothberg School for International Students, a nondenominational academic institution located at the Hebrew University, offering undergraduate and graduate courses to students from all over the world.

In his later years, Sam suffered from glaucoma. His concern for others with this disease led him to establish a glaucoma research and treatment center in Tel Aviv that featured a mobile outreach capability.

He was one of the founding donors to the United States Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C.

Sam also cared about Peoria. He served on Bradley University's Board of Trustees from 1972 to 1983. He was a past president of Agudas Achim Congregation, and he loved to play golf at Northmoor Golf Course. He and his wife, Jean, have supported many organizations and charities in Peoria over the years.

He holds honorary doctoral degrees from Bradley University, Hebrew University Jerusalem, Brandeis University and the Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion.

A private family service is scheduled for Wednesday, July 11. Arrangements are with Davison-Fulton Woodland Chapel in Peoria. Following the service, the Rothberg family will receive relatives and friends at the Park Edge Club House, 5200 N. Knoxville Ave., from 2:30 to 4 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the charity of one's choice.