William Rosenthal

03/23/2001

William Rosenthal, 86, of Mystic Isle Way and Pompano Beach, Fla., died Friday in Natick at the home of his son, Steven Rosenthal. He was assistant director of health and physical education for the New York City Board of Education from 1960 until retiring in 1972. Born in Chicago on May 11, 1914, son of Isadore and Rose Cohen Rosenthal, he moved to New York City as a child and was a graduate of James Monroe High School, where he was elected to the Alumni Sports Hall of Fame. He received his bachelor's degree in 1935 from City College of New York, where he was a member of the soccer, lacrosse and boxing teams. He received his master's degree in education in 1936 and his doctorate in education in 1954, both from New York University. An Army veteran of World War II, he retired with the rank of lieutenant colonel in 1974. Mr. Rosenthal taught at Bronx Vocational and DeWitt Clinton high schools and, after passing his chairman's exam, at Christopher Columbus High School. He also conducted courses to assist young teachers as they prepared for their chairman's exam. During his retirement, he lectured to physical-education specialists in Singapore, Sweden and Israel and was an adjunct professor in the department of sports studies at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He was also a consultant to the sporting goods industry. He had been involved with Camp Watitoh since 1939, serving as head counselor for many years, and was a former trustee of the Becket Arts Center and had served on the Josh Billings Run-Aground Committee. Mr. Rosenthal was a member and former president of the National Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association and refereed as many as seven games a week. He also was executive director of the Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Exhibitors Association for many years. He was presented the Silver Beaver award from the Boy Scouts of America and was inducted in 1972 into the National Soccer Hall of Fame. He and his wife, the former Frieda Allen, whom he married Aug. 27, 1938, were married 56 years at the time of her death. Besides his son, he leaves a daughter, Marjorie Rosenthal of Needham; a brother, Albert Rosenthal of Plainview, N.Y., and two granddaughters. The funeral was yesterday, March 26, at STAR OF DAVID FUNERAL HOME, North Lauderdale, Fla. Shiva was yesterday and will continue today at 111 Briny Ave., Apt. 2002, Pompano Beach, Fla. Remainder of shiva, 12 Mark St., Natick. A memorial service will be held this summer in Becket. Donations in Bill's memory may be made to the Friends of the Becket Ambulance, 557 Main St., Becket, MA 01223. He is also survived by a daughter-in-law, Ruth Rosenthal, and granddaughters Caren and Debra Rosenthal, all of Natick.

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