Part of the solution

Businessman honored for making history

MICHELLE ACKERMAN
Staff Writer

Newton Rosenzweig

The time was the late 1940s. The place was Temple Beth Israel, Phoenix.

Newton Rosenzweig, in synagogue for services, listened carefully to the sermon. As the rabbi quoted the truism, "If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem," Rosenzweig took note. That day, as he left the service, he decided that he would become a part of the solution.

In honor of his work to create solutions for Arizona, Rosenzweig will be recognized as one of six 1999 history makers, at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 27, at Marriott's Camelback Inn, 5402 E. Lincoln Drive. The occasion is Historymakers Gala V, a biennial event that benefits the exhibits and educational programs of the Arizona Historical Society Museum.

Historymakers honors Arizonans who have distinguished themselves in a variety of areas. As his long, busy life indicates, Rosenzweig certainly has.

Born in Phoenix in 1905 to Austrian immigrant parents, he went to work in his father's business, Rosenzweig Jewelers, in 1927. After serving in the military in World War II, he returned to Phoenix in 1945 and joined with his brother, the late Harry Rosenzweig, in assuming full responsibility for the family business.

He also began quietly to involve himself in community service projects and penned the first of what would become hundreds of letters to local newspapers, commenting on local issues and suggesting solutions to problems.

In 1949, Rosenzweig became a founder of the Charter Government Committee, a group of men and women charged with cleaning up local politics and hiring a professional city manager.

In 1956, Rosenzweig married Betty Dabney. Together, they lavished their love and attention on community needs.

Chris Tompkins, executive director of the Foundation for Blind Children, which is one of the beneficiaries of the Rosenzweigs' generosity, calls Newton Rosenzweig "a visionary man for our community and state. He's one of those people in Arizona who has made things happen over a wide span of years and in many different capacities."

In addition to founding a state library for blind and visually impaired children in public schools, which furnishes Braille and large print textbooks and workbooks, the Rosenzweigs paid for an ambulatory surgery unit at Phoenix Memorial Hospital that provides outpatient surgery to low-income families.

In the 1960s, Rosenzweig was influential in the planning of the Civic Center to revitalize downtown Phoenix. He served on the Phoenix City Council and was a member of the Phoenix Forty, a group of influential businessmen who helped guide the growth of the city.

He was a co-founder of the Arizona Community Foundation, Phoenix Arts Council and Phoenix Symphony Orchestra.

"He has inspired many institutions that are now very much a part of our lives today," comments Neal Kurn, who has been involved in a variety of charitable organizations with Rosenzweig over the years.

Always looking to honor others, the Rosenzweigs funded the Anna Rosenzweig Awards, which recognizes volunteers, in honor of Newton and Harry's sister.

Throughout the years, Newton Rosenzweig served on 49 boards and was president of many, including St. Luke's Medical Center and Temple Beth Israel.

"Some people are thinkers and some people are doers - he's really both," says Kurn. "He is probably one of the most thoughtful minds that has graced the civic community."

"I would call him a true Renaissance man," says Tompkins. "He has lots of interests in many areas ... in all the different things that enrich our lives and (that help) to enrich the citizens of this state who have some additional obstacles through physical disabilities to overcome."

Rosenzweig sees it differently. "I don't know if I've really (been a part of the solution) exactly the way intended, but my (own) version of it," he says. "It just seems that when a person is born in a town and lived here all their life, they ought to take an interest in it."

It was the citizens of Maricopa County who actually chose Rosenzweig as one of their 1999 Historymakers. Two years ago, ballots asking for nominations were sent out to members of the Arizona Historical Society, Historical League, and Arizona Historical Society Museum/Marley Center. Names nominated most often were passed along to a committee of 12 panelists. These panelists met twice, and given only biographies with the names of the nominees deleted, voted for this year's honorees.

Rosenzweig was chosen along with former Phoenix Vice Mayor Adam Diaz; philanthropists G. Robert and Katherine "Kax" Herberger; artist Robert T. McCall; and former Gov. Rose Mofford. Videos about the lives of the winners will be shown at the gala, then added to the Arizona Historical Society Museum's oral history collection.

Event tickets start at $175. Invitations are available by calling 948-9311

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