Dr. Macey Herschel Rosenthal


Dr. Macey Herschel Rosenthal, 80, of Lynchburg, died at his home Monday, July 29, 2002 after a long illness.  He was the husband of Lila Abrash Rosenthal, originally of Paterson, NJ. They were wed June 10, 1945, in New York City and recently celebrated their 57th anniversary.

Dr. Rosenthal was born December 5, 1921, in Lynchburg, the son of the late Simon Herschel and Bettye Greenberg Rosenthal.  He attended E. C. Glass High School, Lynchburg College, Washington and Lee University, and the University of Virginia Medical School.  He specialized in urologic surgery at the Johns Hopkins Institute, and served in the U. S. Navy in Okinawa during World War II.  Upon his return, he completed his internship in pathology at Duke University Medical Hospital, and surgical residencies at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston, the Mayo Clinic, and Medical College of Virginia.

Returning to Lynchburg, he joined his father in private practice, where, on the staffs of the Lynchburg General and the Virginia Baptist hospitals, he practiced until his retirement in 1986.  He then declared he was moving "from the operating table to the bridge table".  During his career, he taught at the Baptist Hospital School of Nursing, and he often expressed particularly high regard for the nursing profession.

Macey was a passionate bridge player and earned his Life Master in duplicate bridge.  He was an active member and former president of the Lynchburg duplicate bridge club.  He belonged to the Rotary Club; the Lynchburg Academy of Medicine, in which he was proud of his involvement in its desegregation; a member of the American Urologic Association; and a board member of Agudath Sholom Synagogue, of which his grandfather, Moses Rosenthal, was a founder.

Macey was a car buff from whom many sought advice, and he enjoyed staying on top of computers, telecommunications, and other technologies in his retirement.  His sense of humor cracked people up in the best and the worst of times.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons: Dr. Macey H. Rosenthal, Jr. of Berkeley, CA; Stephen D. Rosenthal and his wife Cindy of Richmond; two daughters: Nancy B. Rosenthal and her husband James B. Nevin of New York, NY; Sally N. Rosenthal of Palo Alto, CA; one granddaughter: Courtney B. Rosenthal of Richmond; and a sister: Ceevah R. Blatman of Hanover, NH; and a host of devoted friends he considered family.

The family will receive friends and condolensces at Tharp Funeral Home (434-237-9424, www.tharpfuneralhome.com) from 5:30-7:00 p.m. today.  A funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, August 1, 2002 at Agudath Sholom Synagogue with Rabbi Tom Gutherz officiating.  Interment will follow at Beth Joseph/Agudath Sholom Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Agudath Sholom Synagogue, 2055 Langhorne Road, Lynchburg, VA 24501; Camp Kum-Ba-Yah, 4415 Boonsboro Road, Lynchburg, VA 24503; or Hospice of the Hills, 4413 Boonsboro Road, Lynchburg, VA 24503; or your favorite charity.

His family has the utmost appreciation for Hospice of the Hills, and for the phenomenal nurses that became Macey's friends and remain ours.  Thank you, Dr. David Hill.