Robert and Marion Rosenthal Professorship in Spine Surgery

ROBERT M. ROSENTHAL has been an integral part of the nation’s automotive industry since the early 1950’s. A native Washingtonian, Bob has served as Director and President of the Washington Area Automobile Dealers Association. He has also received numerous awards including the two most coveted dealer awards – the Time Magazine Quality Dealer Award and the International American Automobile Dealers/Sports Illustrated Dealer of Distinction.

In 1951, Bob graduated from Temple University in Philadelphia, where he met his wife, MARION. They were to marry that same year; and in 1954, Bob became President of Rosenthal Chevrolet, the dealership he founded with his father, Harry Rosenthal. In a career that has spanned over 60 years, Bob founded more than 40 dealerships, making him one of the automotive industry’s largest dealers in the country. Many of these have been sold to managers, fulfilling his desire to help talented employees become dealers.

Bob’s business interests are not only confined to the automotive industry. They also include real estate, advertising, insurance, and formerly an aviation charter company. For over 33 years, Bob served on the Board of Directors of First Virginia Bank (now BB&T). He also served on the board of the Washington Airport Authority.

In addition to his outstanding contributions to the business community, Bob and his wife, Marion have also supported many diverse civic charities and cultural institutions over the years. Some of these include the Scholarship Program at the Fox Business School of Temple University, the Eisenhower Hospital in Palm Desert, CA, Children’s Hospital Foundation of Washington, DC and the Nantucket Cottage Hospital. Bob is a former trustee of the Phillips Collection and is presently serving on the Trustees’ Council of the National Gallery of Art. The Rosenthals have been very supportive of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts since its inception in 1971, and Marion has served on the board of the National Symphony Orchestra. Her philanthropy has spread to many other Arts organizations and charities.

Over the years, Bob and Marion have been dedicated members of the Young Presidents Organization. This involvement has enabled them to travel the world adding great dimension to their lives.

Another aspect of Bob’s life has been his passion for collecting vintage cars. He has a remarkable collection of 36 cars ranging from a 1932 Ford to a 1955 Corvette. Other cars include a Rolls Royce, Packard, Bentley, 22 Woodies and a 1936 Ford Phaeton — a gift from his daughters and almost an exact match to his first car.

Bob and Marion have been married for 65 years and have 3 daughters and 3 grand­children living between Los Angeles, Sun Valley, New York and Washington, DC.