Jack W. Rosen 1930-2012
Eighty-one year old Jack W. Rosen of Highland Park, Illinois died peacefully in the loving arms of his loving family Saturday, January 7, 2012.
He is survived by his wife of 39 years Beverly Rosen and children and grandchildren and a sister and brother.
He was born May 15th 1930 in New York City, moving to Chicago at the age of three with his parents Sam and Ella Rosen, both immigrants from Europe. He grew up in the Humboldt Park neighborhood and spent much of his free time playing basketball and pool at the Deborah Boys' Club on Division Street. When not playing at the boys club, he played stick ball in nearby parks. His parents founded Sam's Wine on North Avenue.
He was a product of Chicago public schools attending Lafayette Elementary School, P.S. 299 in Chicago's Humboldt Park neighborhood and graduated from Tuley High School. He graduated from University of Illinois with a B.S. in management and marketing in 1952. He earned his Law Degree (J.D.) from DePaul University in 1955 and was admitted to the Supreme Court of the United States of America in 1963. He enjoyed lifelong friendships with many of his DePaul classmates, many of them attorneys who helped build Chicago's legal system. He served in the U.S. Army as a military police officer for two years before heading back to Chicago to start his career.
Professionally, Jack practiced law for 56 years, most of it as a sole practitioner on La Salle Street. He took great pride in defending those less fortunate and those who felt they did not have a voice in the system. Generations of family members engaged his services. He spent hours fighting for the rights of his clients, often against large businesses. He considered himself a small town lawyer in the big city.
He is an active defender of first amendment rights and upholder of the Constitution. He read "The Federalist Papers" often sharing copies with all his grandchildren and imparting his strong belief in the preservation of personal freedoms.
Selected by his peers, he chaired the Chicago Bar Association's committee on Narcotics and Drug Abuse that worked to reduce penalties for small amounts of marijuana possession and other drugs during the 1970s.
He was an avid skier who skied until his late 70s and passed along his passion and love of the mountains to his grandkids.
Jack cherished time with family and grandkids. He loved photography and used it as a means to capture the beloved memories and beautiful scenery experienced while traveling with his wife Beverly to more than 14 National Parks. He was a wonderful poet and music lover.
An rabid Chicago sports fan, he loved playing basketball and watching his brother Fred Rosen dunk. Never one to miss a challenge, he often played basketball against men half his age even well into his late 70's. "I was never great but I tried." A long-time Bear's season ticket holder, he spent the 1960's taking pictures of the team from the field. We can still hear his ranting each time a Bear's player drops the ball.
Beverly Rosen, wife of Jack, noted "He was an intellectual, extraordinary man and imparted his beliefs to his children, grandchildren, family and friends. He touched their lives with his philosophy and good judgment. He helped many people to open their world to adventure and knowledge, especially their love to each other. His wish is for understanding of each other and that all his children shall always stay together."
Rosen is survived by his beloved wife of 39 years to Beverly Rosen; loving father of Ann Rosen (Thomas) Ferrier, Betsy Rosen (Liam Stokes), Deborah (Dr. William) Hopkinson and Louis (Rhonda) Marzinelli; devoted brother of Fred Rosen (LaDonna Carlton) and Sandy (Shelly) Gross; cherished grandfather of Kari Hopkinson, Michael Hopkinson, Michael Marzinelli, Anthony Marzinelli, David Stokes, Ryan Stokes, and horse, Jordie Ferrier. He is also survived by many dear nephews, nieces and friends.
Funeral Services, Tuesday, January 10, 2012, 12 noon at Weinstein Funeral Home, 111 Skokie Blvd, Wilmette, IL, 847-256-5700. Interment will immediately follow at Westlawn Cemetery, Norridge, IL.
No flowers please. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in honor of Jack W. Rosen to the American Cancer Society , P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718, 1-800-227-2345, www.cancer.org, Midwest Palliative and Hospice Care Center, 2050 Claire Court Glenview, IL 60025-7635, 847-467-7423, http://www.carecenter.org, or Horsefeathers Therapeutic Riding Center, 1181 Riverwoods Road, Lake Forest, IL 60045-3459, 847-234-2411, www.horsefeatherscenter.org.
Shiva will be announced at the funeral services.