Rosalie Brenman is much remembered for her dedication to the disabled children of ALYN Hospital in Israel, but that hardly tells the story. It was not just that Rosalie Brenman was dedicated and persistent in putting on dinners and events for ALYN year after year; it was how she did it. She did it with class, with charm, with more than a bit of flamboyance, yet never overdone.
In her work for ALYN, Rosalie Brenman played the role of society lady in its best sense: pulling in her friends, and then the friends of her friends to the cause, and pretty soon their friends, too; making the cause of ALYN seem to be the most important on the planet; lavishing smiles and thanks on all supporters; doing all this without a heavy hand. Somehow, she made herself irresistible in her entreaties for more funds, more attendance, more outreach, on behalf of ALYN. (Not to mention, on the other end of the spectrum, Rosalie Brenman successfully sought more support from the national office.)
True leader that she was, Rosalie Brenman also knew how to step out of the limelight, quietly nurturing a broad leadership for ALYN. Yet, she still saw to the necessary detail work in the background. Rosalie Brenman’s obituary
And what was the benefit for her? Like any older person who acts on behalf of little kids, she knew she would not likely see the reward. The positive impact would be too far in the future. Rosalie Brenman did it for its own sake.
With her outgoing personality and unmistakable presence, Rosalie Brenman left a mark on all who met her. She had the indefinable characteristic we call color, enlivening any group or crowd. In this she was fun to be around, such that our community is markedly diminished by her passing. Its just not the same without Rosalie Brenman.
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