In Memoriam: Former First Selectman Jack Rosenthal, 94

Jack H. Rosenthal died unexpectedly on Monday, November 25, at Masonicare At Newtown, where he had resided for the last two years. He was 94 years old.

He was born in Bronx, New York on August 6, 1919, the son of the late Irving Rosenthal and Ann Shafter Rosenthal. He was raised in Yonkers, New York and graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1937 where he was on the basketball and baseball teams.

In addition to his parents, Jack was predeceased by Annabelle, his loving wife of almost 54 years, a daughter Carole Susan and a brother, Stanley J. Rosenthal. Jack is survived by his wife Theresa Q. Rosenthal of Sandy Hook and her brother and sisters; son Herb Rosenthal and daughter-in-law Michelle Rosenthal of Newtown; four grandchildren: Julia David, her husband John and their three children of Virginia Beach, VA; Daniel Rosenthal, his wife Meri and their three children of Newtown; John Rosenthal of Newtown and Hudson, NY; Sarah Sullivan, her husband Bill and two children of Decatur, GA; two step-grandchildren: Lauren Collingwood, her husband Jeremy and two children of Durham, CT; and Michael Vastarelli of Newtown. He is also survived by a brother, Arthur L. Rosenthal of Chandler, Arizona; a sister-in law, Janeth Rosenthal of Briar Cliff Manor, New York; many loving nieces and nephews, and former daughter-in-law, Kathleen Hughes of Pawley’s Island, SC.

He enlisted in the US army in early 1941 and was initially stationed at Walter Reed Hospital where he trained as a medical technician. He also served in North Africa with the 69th Station Hospital and achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant. He was honorably discharged from the Army at the end of World War II in late 1945. After the war, he began a 30 year career in the insurance industry, first with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in Yonkers, and transferred to the Danbury, CT office in 1952. This allowed him to move his family to Connecticut, first in Bethel and then to Newtown in 1953. He started visiting Connecticut in 1936 with his friends, the Gillette Family, in Roxbury and was determined to make Connecticut his home one day.

As soon as Jack moved to Newtown, he became active in the community, beginning with the Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire Company where he was eventually elected company president. He was encouraged to get involved in local politics by the late First Selectman, A. Fenn Dickinson and the late Democratic Town Chairman, Attorney John Holian. After the tragic death of First Selectman Dickinson in an accident during the construction of Sandy Hook School, Jack was nominated to be the Democratic candidate for First Selectman in 1955. He lost a close election to the late First Selectman Ed Coleman, but was elected to the Board of Selectmen. This began 42 years of service to the Town of Newtown in elected office including four years as a Selectman, 1955-1959 and 13 years as a member of the Board of Finance, 1962 to 1975. In 1975, he was elected to his first of six terms as First Selectman, serving from 1976-1987. Jack was also elected to three terms on the Legislative Council ending in 1997. Over the years, he served on three Charter Revision Commissions, the last one in 2000-2001.

In addition to working in the insurance industry, he and his wife Annabelle owned the Newtown Toy Center in the Queen Street shopping center with his late brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Yale and Amelia Parker, from 1955-1960. His last employment was as a part-time administrator for the Newtown Chamber of Commerce with an office in a familiar place for Jack, Edmond Town Hall. A staunch Democrat, Jack also was a member of the Democratic Town Committee for many years and served as its Chairman for a number of years.

An avid baseball player and fan, Jack was a player/manager of the Newtown Men’s Baseball Team in the 1950s and 1960s. He was very proud of the fact that in 1967, at the age of 48, after many years of "retirement" as a player, the team was one short and he had to play first base and proceeded to get five hits in five at-bats. He carried a laminated news article of that game for many years. During his two year convalescence at Masonicare, he made many new friends among the staff and residents and was a fixture in the lobby smiling at visitors.

A testimonial from his grandson John is a fine remembrance: "Jack Rosenthal, my grandfather, died today. For those who knew Jack, speed him to the beyond with thoughts of love and your good wishes. He was sweet, funny, generous and given to a steadiness of integrity that was astounding to witness. He was totally charming and a first-class mensch. Jack lived a long, good life full of love and grace. I am grateful to eternity that he was my grandfather."

Friends may call at the Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main St. Newtown Wednesday Dec. 4th from 4:00pm to 8:00pm. Funeral Services and interment in Newtown Village Cemetery will be private. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Newtown Scholarship Association, P.O. Box 302, Newtown, CT 06470 or to the Masonicare at Newtown, Quality of Life Fund, PO Box 5505, Newtown, CT 06470

Obituary courtesy of Honan Funeral Home.