Obituary of Howard Rothman

Howard E. Rothman, of Largo, Florida, passed away peacefully on August 16 after a brief illness.  He was born in Detroit, Michigan on June 6, 1946, and grew up in Toledo, Ohio. Growing up, he was active in the B’nai Brith Youth Organization. Thereafter, he served on various committees of B’nai B’rith International, culminating in his service as a Senior Vice President on the Board of Governors. He stayed close with both his BBYO and B’nai B’rith friends for the rest of his life, attending reunions whenever he could.

After graduating from the University of Toledo, Howard received his law degree from the Cleveland Marshall School of Law in 1973.  He was employed by the semiconductor division of Harris Corporation in Cleveland, Ohio, where he practiced corporate law and managed international transactions.  When the company relocated in 1978, Howard moved with his immediate family and his parents to Melbourne Florida where he continued working for Harris, and after a corporate reorganization, Intersil.  During this time, he also owned and operated a Little Professor Book Center with his mother (Nita) and father (Myron). Following his retirement in 2006, he and his wife Susan moved to Largo Florida where he could spend more time with his daughter and grandchildren.   Besides his family, Howard's greatest passion was playing bridge.  He was a Life Master and both played and directed games several times a week around the Largo area.

Howard is survived by his loving wife, Susan, and his beloved daughters Elisa (Steven Hirschfield) and Rachel Rothman, sister Rose (Jeffrey Heintz) and brother Mark.  He took enormous pride in, and doted on, his grandchildren Noah, Coby and Dakota and his many nieces and nephews, all of whom adored him. 

Howard was one of God’s noblemen and the patriarch of the Rothman family.  He was a loving and conscientious husband, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle, and enjoyed nothing so much as spending time with family.  He was a friend to everyone who knew him, and he will be missed by all of us.