Martin Rosen, former Village of Lawrence mayor, died on Dec. 13. He was 100.
He died peacefully, according to his son-in-law Larry Cohen.
Rosen was born on Sept. 3, 1925 in the Bronx and served in the U.S. Army as a combat engineer during World War II.
After serving he graduated from The City College of New York and New York University School of Law where he received both a J.D. and an LL.M. in taxation. He founded the firm Rosen & Reade and later became a trusts and estates partner at Dentons, where he remained a partner until he was 95.
“He had a very full and accomplished life,” Cohen said.
In 1965, he met Simon Weisenthal, an Austrian Holocaust survivor and Nazi hunter. Rosen served as his advisor, consultant and pro-bono lawyer and helped form the Simon Weisenthal Center in Los Angeles, California.
In 1979, he played a critical role in a successful mission to West Germany to abolish the statute of limitations on Nazi war crimes.
“This was a really important step because otherwise the Nazi’s could be free from prosecution,” Cohen said.
With his wife, Joan, he led the UJA Federation of New York campaign in the Five Towns for 50 years and raised over $1 billion for the organization. He has served as chairman of the South Shore Executive Committee and on the organization’s Board of Directors.
“As Mayor of the Village of Lawrence, Martin Rosen led with integrity, wisdom, and an unwavering commitment to the public good,” Village of Lawrence Mayor Samuel Nahmias wrote in a statement. “Beyond Lawrence, his impact was felt nationally and internationally. The Village of Lawrence is forever grateful for his leadership and his example.”
Rosen was very involved with Temple Beth Shalom in Lawrence and the Seawane Club in Hewlett Harbor. He served as the Mayor of Lawrence from 1976 to 1980.
“He was the most exceptional human being,” said Jacqueline Handel, longtime Lawrence resident. “Whatever he was interested in, he gave his full self to. He was the most beloved and respected person.”
At 97, he authored his memoir, “God Bless America: I Had a Great Run”.
“I was very privileged and fortunate to be his son-in-law for 46 years,” Cohen added. “He was a remarkable man and had the greatest impact on my life, my family’s lives and he’s someone that touched everybody. He lived one of the most impactful loves of anyone I’ve ever known.”
He is survived by his wife, Joan; his daughters Ilene Cohen (Larry), Lynn Karkus (Ted), and his son-in-law Steven Stern. Along with his grandchildren Bari Klein (David), Kerri Saperstein (Eytan), Andrew Cohen (Liza), Michael Stern (Gwen), Corey Stern, Jason Karkus, Samantha Stern, Brett Karkus; and nine great-grandchildren. His daughter Nancy Stern predeceases him.
A funeral was held at Boulevard-Riverside Chapels in Hewlett on Dec. 16.
In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations to the Marion & Aaron Gural JCC, UJA Federation of New York and the Simon Weisenthal Center.
