Ellen T. Rosenthal

Ellen Rosenthal passed away peacefully at home on November 3, 2018, three days after her 90th birthday. She was a lifetime resident of Scarsdale, daughter of the late Paul Tishman and the late Ruth Tishman, and the former wife of the late Arthur Rosenthal. She is survived by her son James Rosenthal and his wife Kayley, her daughter Dr. Kathryn Goldman and her husband Stephen, her son Paul Rosenthal and his wife Liz, and eight grandchildren: Isobel Rosenthal, Olivia Rosenthal, Emily Goldman, Sarah Goldman, Zachary Goldman, Rebecca Goldman, Jack Rosenthal and Edward Rosenthal.

Ellen was devoted to her three children and her eight grandchildren, all of whom were the loves of her life. Her irreverent approach to life instilled in all of them a great sense of humor, a sense of compassion, a compelling concern about inequality and social justice and a need to be involved in the world. Ellen also "walked the walk," as she was an anti-war activist and served as a draft counselor for the American Friends Service Committee during the Vietnam War, established a volunteer educational program for inmates at Grasslands Penitentiary, and was engaged in numerous other professional and volunteer endeavors helping others. Ellen was warm, funny, and always interested in other people. She was always available to talk, and had a unique gift that enabled her to relate to and communicate with people of all generations and backgrounds. She knew people from all walks of life, and consistently refused to defer to their wealth, educational degrees or social status. Instead, she looked at their character and their values, and chose her friends accordingly.

Ellen often reminisced about growing up in Scarsdale during the 1940s surrounded by the dogs that her father raised and trained at Ruthland Kennel. She recounted going to school on a sled pulled by these dogs, and she had particularly special memories of Fria and Edgar, two German Shepherd Grand Champions raised and trained by her father. The kennel also provided canine support shepherds during World War II. The experience of growing up raising dogs made Ellen a lifelong lover of dogs, and, her beloved pets included Daffodil, Pepe, Buffy, Merlin, Dilly, Haiku, Yama, Heather and Katerina, who was her constant companion during the last few years.

Ellen was a graduate of the Dalton School and Sophie Newcomb College of Tulane University. After her children were grown, she returned to school to obtain a Masters in Social Work from New York University and a Certificate in Psychotherapy from the Westchester Institute for the Study of Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy. She spent most of her professional life as a psychotherapist at the New Rochelle Guidance Center, while also maintaining a small private practice. She was a gifted therapist, and helped improve the quality of the lives of innumerable clients.

Ellen lived a long and rich life. She was a great source of support for her family, her friends and her patients. She was always there with the exactly correct recipe of empathy, humor, cynicism and irreverence that helped others address the various challenges that life presents.

The family wishes to thank Eva McAdams, Clecy Cesario, Ediney Guimares, Christiana Cesario and Lourdes Valencia for the compassion and friendship that they provided to Ellen. You provided her with dignity and a quality of life that would have been impossible without your continuous support.

Burial will be private, for immediate family members only, and a Celebration of Life memorial service will be held on January 5, 2019 at The Cosmopolitan Club in New York City. Memorial donations may be made to the American Civil Liberties Union.