When his father suffered a stroke in 1956, 22-year-old Gordon Rosenthal received a hardship discharge and left the Air Force to run May and Leopold, a furniture business that was founded at the turn of the century.
"My father, being an only child, knew what he had to do and readily accepted the responsibility," said his son, Lee Rosenthal.
Gordon L. Rosenthal III of Squirrel Hill, a management consultant, died of cancer Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2008, at Forbes Hospice, Oakland. He was 74.
"Dad was able to provide my grandfather with all the medical and personal care he needed for over 15 years and continued to provide for my grandmother until she passed away some 20 years later," his son said.
"And although there were times when funds were tight, our father also made it possible for my sister, Lecia, and me to attend and graduate from Shady Side Academy and to go on and receive our college degrees."
Born and raised in Steubenville, Mr. Rosenthal was an only child of Gordon and Marguerite Front Rosenthal.
He attended Cranbrook Academy in Detroit, where he played the trumpet in the school band.
In 1951, following graduation from high school, Mr. Rosenthal entered the Wharton Business School at the University of Pennsylvania, earning his degree four years later.
In the 26 years that Mr. Rosenthal operated the furniture business, he was known as an honest businessman, his son said.
"Dad also had the reputation of being a humanitarian. He did a lot for others, but never wanted to take credit.
"On one occasion, he gave a job to a young man who left home because of the differences he had with his parents. Dad not only gave him a job, but worked and counseled him through the years. Today, that young man is the CEO of a company."
In 1966, Mr. Rosenthal married Marcia Rubinoff, a resident of Squirrel Hill whose family operated the former Rosen's Drug Store in that neighborhood.
When Mr. Rosenthal closed the furniture store in 1983, he established a management office on Second Avenue in Downtown, where he was a consultant for the furniture industry until he became ill 16 months ago.
"My father was also known for his landscape photography," said his son. "My mother is an art broker, who also enjoys photographing landscapes. She would accompany my father on his photographic trips to the Northwest United States."
In 1993, Mr. Rosenthal's landscape photographs, which were exhibited at The Carnegie, earned him a first prize in The Natural World Photographic Competition.
Mr. Rosenthal is survived by his wife, Marcia Rubinoff Rosenthal; son, Lee Rosenthal of Chicago; daughter, Lecia Rosenthal of Boston; and grandson, J.P. Rosenthal.
Services will be held at 1 p.m. today in Rodef Shalom Temple, Oakland. Visitation is from 11:30 a.m. until the time of the service. Interment will be in Beth Shalom Cemetery.
Arrangements are being handled by the Ralph Schugar Chapel, Shadyside.
