Stefanie Rothschild

On July 1, 2021, Stefanie Loren Rothschild (née Herscowitz) (52) of Cabin John, Maryland passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family after an accident during a storm in the place she adored most – Belgrade Lakes, Maine. An infectiously warm and smiling woman, mother, wife, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend who touched so many lives, Stefanie was born on November 17, 1968 in Cleveland, Ohio to Dr. Herbert and Ellen Herscowitz of Bethesda, MD. She spent much of her life in the Washington, DC area, graduating from Winston Churchill High School in Potomac, MD in 1986. She completed her undergraduate studies at Georgetown University (1990) in Washington, DC, where she also received an MBA (1995). She studied abroad in Stirling, Scotland during university and moved to London after graduation. She returned to the United States for graduate school and then put her creative talents to work as one of the early employees of America Online. She met her greatest love Gregg Rothschild, with whom she just celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary, at Buffalo Billiards in Washington, DC. They made a home in Cabin John, welcoming three gorgeous and extraordinary children who were her greatest joy: Dylan (21), Molly (19), and Carly (17). Stefanie “married into” Maine, getting engaged to Gregg in the same camp that his grandparents Ethel and Marty would visit every summer going back many decades. She spread the Maine tradition, enticing many friends and family members to join her to create summer memories of swimming (with life vests!) in beautiful Long Pond and eating Giffords ice cream multiple times a day. She was happiest riding on her pontoon boat, the “Pimp Mommy S,” with her beloved dog, Oscar, on her lap, while kids frantically held on for their lives to the tube being whipped about behind. She was a fixture in the Washington, DC community, where everyone knew “Stef” for her charitable fundraising efforts and her incredibly giving, fun-loving, and helpful nature, not to mention her love of pranks, especially fake mustaches. Given her talent for shaping the lives of young people, she had been looking forward to teaching her own preschool class this coming year at the Bannockburn Nursery School. She is survived by Gregg; Dylan, Molly, and Carly; and her parents. She also is survived by her older brother Robert Herscowitz, his wife Terri Strassburger and their children Jack and Eva; her younger brother Andrew Herscowitz, his wife Tracy Howald Herscowitz and their children Michael, Olivia and William; her in-laws Herbert and Marie Rothschild and Ellie Rothschild; her brother-in-law Marc Rothschild and his children Keith, Amy, and Eli and their mother Jolie; her brother-in-law Richard Zeldes, his wife Maggie, and their children Haley and Jack; her brother-in-law Michael Zeldes and his children Harley and Amanda and their mother Leslie; as well Oscar and her newest love, her puppy Marty. Gregg called her Lebron because she was the ultimate superstar, and countless young people, both related and unrelated, affectionately called her Aunt Stef or “Brenda.” Reflecting her selfless spirit, Stefanie was an organ donor, with the circumstances of her passing and healthy living giving her the opportunity to bring hope and joy to many other families. Services will be held at Congregation Beth El at 8215 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, MD on Thursday, July 8 at 11am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a scholarship fund in her memory at Georgetown University at giving.georgetown.edu. Please designate your gift in memory of Mrs. Stefanie Rothschild.