Rosalyn Rosenthal Obituary, Death – The Fort Worth Youth Orchestra is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Rosalyn G. Rosenthal, who served as an Honorary Board Member from the organization. Mrs. Rosenthal was a fervent supporter of music education and provided financial assistance to a wide range of projects at the Fort Worth Youth Orchestra (FWYO).
These projects included collaborations with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, performances at Cook Children’s Medical Center, and renovations to the FWYO’s Orchestra Hall. According to Dr. Germán Gutiérrez, the Director of Music for the New York Youth Orchestra, “Roz was always kind and generous to the FWYO, our young musicians, my family, and all others.” The Fort Worth community has suffered the loss of a wonderful friend of the arts, and we will miss having her in the audience.
In December of this year, Dr. Germán Gutiérrez and the Youth Orchestra once again presented “Hanukkah,” an original song that was created by Nico Gutiérrez, the son of Dr. Gutiérrez, and was dedicated to Roz Rosenthal. This performance took place during the 50th season of the Female Youth Orchestra.
She stated in a recent letter that she was “overwhelmed” by the original performance and that she wanted “ALL to know just how much the Youth Orchestra means to me.” Roz was referring to the premiere that took place in 2014.
Roz has an incalculable influence on the city of Fort Worth.
From the time she was young, she took her mother-in-law Annabel’s recommendation to “join everything,” which became a motto for her that led to her becoming deeply involved in the city’s religious, cultural, and charitable fabric.
To put it another way, Roz was not only a participant but also a leader, a driving force for change and support across a wide range of organizations. Her contributions encompassed a wide range of endeavors, including providing financial assistance for the neonatal unit at Cook Children’s Medical Center, enabling Beth-El Congregation to construct a new temple, and financially supporting the arts.
Her legacy includes the endowed clarinet chair at the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, the Rosenthal Dome at Bass Hall, and significant contributions to the Jewish Federation of Fort Worth and Tarrant County, the American Heart Association, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Planned Parenthood, Oregon Health and Science University-MS Center, Myelin Repair Foundation, and a chair in the MS Center Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri.
Rather than merely being a romantic relationship, her partnership with Manny was also professional. During the 1960s, when Roz was confronted with a difficult financial situation, her resiliency shone clearly as she played a crucial part in converting Standard Meat Company into a success.
All the while, she and Manny remained committed to their devotion to philanthropy. At Texas A&M University in College Station, Roz and Manny made a donation in 1987 that resulted in the establishment of the first endowed chair in the United States. This chair was established to support research and instruction in the field of meat sciences.
During the same year, a building on the West Campus was renamed the E.M. “Manny” Rosenthal Meat Sciences and Technology Center. Beginning this coming Saturday, March 23, the FWYO will be giving a series of free public performances at Sundance Square Plaza.
The top Youth Orchestra, which will be led by Dr. Germán Gutiérrez, will begin their concert at 6:45 p.m. and will dedicate a performance of Edward Elgar’s “Nimrod” from Enigma Variations to Rosalyn Rosenthal. This will be a part of their concert. Several more FWYO groups will begin their performances at six o’clock and continue to follow the Youth Orchestra until nine o’clock. There is a recommendation for a chair and a light jacket.
