ARTHUR ROTHKOPF

1935 - 2022

ROTHKOPF Arthur J. Rothkopf Beloved husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, friend, and mentor to many, Arthur J. Rothkopf died on February 9, 2022 in Washington, DC. He will be greatly missed for his warmth, intelligence, and kindness. Born in Brooklyn, NY on May 24, 1935, at 16 he left home for Lafayette College in Easton, PA, an experience that forever changed his life. He went on to Harvard Law School, where he made many lifelong friendships. In 1956, he met Barbara Sarnoff, and finding her to be a willing sailing partner, they embarked on a long and happy life together. Rothkopf began his career in Washington, DC as a lawyer at the Securities & Exchange Commission and the U.S. Department of Treasury. He then joined the law firm Hogan & Hartson, where he specialized in tax, regulatory, and legislative representation of U.S. and foreign clients. After a long and successful legal career, in 1992 he was appointed deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation by President George H.W. Bush and confirmed by the Senate. Before that, he served as general counsel of the department, also a Senate-confirmed position. In July 1993, Rothkopf was appointed president of Lafayette College, his alma mater. He and his wife loved their 12 years at the college. Upon his retirement from Lafayette, Rothkopf became President Emeritus, and went on to serve as senior vice-president and counselor to the president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce from 2005-2010. His responsibilities included leadership of the Chamber's education and workforce initiative. He supervised three non-profit entities affiliated with the Chamber: the Institute for a Competitive Workforce; the Business Civic Leadership Center (dedicated to improved business and society relations); and the National Chamber Foundation. Over the years, Rothkopf was a trustee of American University and the Educational Testing Service. He was a member of the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity, an advisory group to the Secretary of Education. He was Board Chair of the Edvance Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing community college graduates increased access to four-year independent colleges. Rothkopf served as a member of the Commission on the Future of Higher Education established by Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings. He was a director of two public companies, Verisk Analytics (NASDAQ) and Bristol West Holdings (NYSE). He was past board chair of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania. Rothkopf was a trustee of the Smithsonian Museum of American History, the Lehigh Valley Hospital, and the Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority, and past president of the Pennsylvania Society. Rothkopf loved spending time with his family and friends, and enjoyed life in Washington and Annapolis, MD, particularly the beautiful views of Ridout Creek throughout the year. His love of the Washington Nationals, Brooklyn Dodgers, and his family will endure forever. In addition to his wife, he leaves behind his two daughters Jenny and Katy Rothkopf; sons-in-law Eric Huffman and Jim Hardin; granddaughter Sadie Rothkopf Huffman; and extended family and friends, all of whom will miss him terribly. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the cause of your choice. A celebration of his life will be held in the spring.In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the cause of your choice. A celebration of his life will be held in the spring.