Ellsworth "Al" Eli Rosen

Longtime resident of Brookline, MA, died on November 21st at 100 years old. A true renaissance man, Al embraced life fully, forever curious and engaged in the world around him, and was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

Born in 1923, he grew up in Connecticut with his two brothers and a large extended family. Graduating NYU with degrees in English and French, he then served in WWII as a Staff Sergeant with the Texas 36th Infantry Division where his troop liberated several concentration camps. This formative experience was featured in an award-winning educational film he produced, Bearing Witness, and he regularly educated school groups about the Holocaust. His life story, part of the Wexler Oral History Project at the Yiddish Book Center, is available online, at www.yiddishbookcenter.org/collections/oral-histories/interviews/woh-fi-0000266/ellsworth-al-rosen-2012

After the war, he studied international policy and history at Sorbonne University, University of Geneva and Columbia University. He then met Leonora Schach Rosen, the love of his life, to whom he was married for 71 years. Al's career began as a reporter for the New Britain Herald, and he then went on to lead public relations and fundraising departments at philanthropic organizations in Hartford, Baltimore, and Boston. He continued to write throughout his life, publishing featured articles in the New York Times and The Saturday Evening Post and several children's books.

Committed to having a positive impact on his community, Al was a civil rights advocate and a founding member of Baltimore Neighborhoods, Inc. which championed fair housing for all. He also held elected positions in Brookline as Chairman of the School Committee, Town Meeting Member, and Library Trustee. He was an accomplished pianist, master level chess player, amateur archeologist, avid golfer, weekend tennis warrior, and enthusiastic traveler. He loved summering at his cottage in Wellfleet, MA, where his roof repair skills were legendary.

Al greatly enjoyed spending time with his children, Danny, Joy and Susan, their spouses, Diana, Jay and Dan, his grandchildren and their spouses, Julia, Nat and Reyna, Kyra and Steve, Izzy, Raymond, and Sasha, and his new great-granddaughter, Marisol Leonora. He was the rare person who approached life with optimism, curiosity, good humor, and practical wisdom. His charm, vivaciousness, bad puns, steadiness, warmth, and kindness will be missed by all.

A memorial service for Al will be held at Levine Chapels, 470 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA, on December 11, 2024 at 2:00pm; and livestreamed at www.levinelive.com/ellsworthrosen . Shiva will be observed on December 11, 2024 from 4pm - 7pm at the home of Joy Rosen.

Donations in his memory may be made to: Facing History and Ourselves, www.facinghistory.org/get-involved/make-donation or the Southern Poverty Law Center, www.splcenter.org/support-us