David Rothman (1923-2013)

[John Barry [CLC17027]]

It is my very unfortunate duty to report the passing of long-time Valley Forge Region and Cadillac/La Salle Club member DAVID ROTHMAN on 1 July 2013.  Here you have his obituary as published locally:

David S. G. Rothman, 89, a retired Philadelphia School District science and math teacher and former ladies apparel manufacturer and bar owner, died Monday, July 1 of heart failure at Lankenau Hospital in Wynnewood, PA. Mr. Rothman earned a B.A. in Liberal Arts and an M.S. in Education at the University of Pennsylvania.

He was deeply involved in the antique automobile hobby as a former officer of the Valley Forge Region â€" Cadillac & LaSalle Club and former board member of the Cadillac & LaSalle Club Museum & Research Center. He was dedicated to the AACA Museum in Hershey, Pa and chaired the Adopt-a-Car Program until mid-June. He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Toni Weisgrau Rothman. Graveside services were held at Roosevelt Memorial Park.

Donations in his memory may be made to the AACA Museum, 161 Museum Drive, Hershey, PA 17033 or to University of Pennsylvania Hillel, Steinhardt Hall, 215 S. 39th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104.

If anyone has any memories of David (including pictures) that they feel would be appropriate to share, I'd welcome those for the August issue of The Goddess.  Send me a private message and we'll work out the details.

[Vince Taliano #13852]

David was a great guy and credit to the hobby.  He will be missed by all who knew him.  Left to right below is David with his wife Toni and Carl Steig at the 2007 Grand National in Savannah.  Rest in peace, David.

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

I've spoken with Dave Rothman several times at various Hershey AACA fall meets. He was a very nice man.

A brown '67 or '68 DeVille convertible he owned at the time was exceptional.

[Jay Friedman]

David was a great guy, as is Toni.  I've shared drinks and meals with them at various Grand Nationals.  He will be missed.

[Joe Manna]

Sorry to hear of David's passing.Please send our prayers and thoughts to the Rothman family.

[harry s]

David was a "prince of a guy". He always spoke and took the time to listen.  He was a great asset to the hobby and will be greatly missed. I am happy to have had the chance to see he and Toni at the MAACCC event this past March.   Harry

[Richard Sills - CLC #936]

David was a dear friend and a true gentleman.  He was passionately devoted to the antique car hobby, and served in several officer positions for the Valley Forge Region CLC, and as a member of the Board of Directors of the CLCMRC.   

David was a life-long car buff.  His Cadillac ownership began in 1955 when he bought a brand new Series 62 convertible.  He owned and drove Cadillacs for the rest of his life.  In addition to his long list of new Cadillacs, David and Toni owned two national CLC award-winning antique Cadillacs -- the 1967 deVille convertible (now owned by Mike Barruzza) and the 1975 Eldorado convertible, both low mileage original cars.  Whatever work was required to maintain the cars, David performed most of it himself.   

During the last several years, David created and chaired the "Adopt-a-Car" Committee at the AACA Museum.  This committee raises funds for the Museum by encouraging donors to underwrite the cost of maintaining a particular favorite car.  Thanks to David's efforts, the Museum has raised thousands of dollars.  Every Cadillac in the AACA Museum has been adopted, along with many of the other antique cars.  David and Toni personally adopted a 1941 Chevrolet convertible with many rare options -- it reminded David of a '42 Chevy convertible that a good friend of his owned when new.

David had a relentlessly cheerful outlook, even in the face of daunting health problems.  His concern was always for others, rather than focusing on his own problems.  Just a few days before his death, David arranged to transition his responsibility for the "Adopt-a-Car" Committee to Jay Ann Edmunds, who agreed to take on the responsibility.  Perhaps David knew that his time was short, and wanted to make sure that the cause he cared for so much would be continued. 

We were privileged to know David, and to be counted as his friend.