Dick Rosenthal passed away June 11, 2024 at the age of 91. The opening paragraph of his obituary reads, “A devout Catholic, he was a devoted son, husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He was an exemplary athlete, businessman, community leader and loyal son of Notre Dame.”
Exemplary at every phase of his life, what more could a person want to be remembered for?
Rosenthal was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1933 and starred in athletics at McBride High School. He attended Notre Dame on a basketball/baseball scholarship, and averaged 16.4 point per game as a bruising 6-5 forward. He captained the 1953-54 team that rattled off a 18 game win streak and defeated #1 ranked Indiana in route to a berth in the “Elite Eight” of the NCAA tournament. He also played baseball in 1952 and 1953.
Rosenthal was the fourth pick overall in the 1954 NBA Draft by the Fort Wayne Pistons. He played three seasons in the NBA, and served a stint in the U.S. Army during the offseason. In 1957 he began his business career as a banker in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Five years later at the age of 29, he became the youngest bank president in the U.S. at the St. Joseph Bank & Trust Co., in South Bend, where he served for 28 years.
Upon retirement from the bank in 1987, Notre Dame tapped him to become director of athletics, a role he held for nine years. He oversaw many highlights during his tenure including the 1988 football National Championship, great success in the Olympic sports, tremendous expansion of women’s varsity sports, stadium renovation/expansion and the initial NBC Sports TV contract.
Rosenthal leaves a legacy of eight living children, 21 grandchildren,and nine great grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on campus at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on June 26, 2024 at 2:30 PM. Interment will be at Cedar Grove Cemetery.
His obituary quotes a 1990 article about Rosenthal by author Irene Davis who sums up the man, “He’s admired and respected in the community, the University and beyond. He’s tall, handsome, articulate, outgoing and extremely talented. He’s committed to his family and his faith. Rosenthal is happy, and it shows. He smiles easily and often.”
Rest in Peace, Dick Rosenthal.