Robert Rosenthal, DVM, died suddenly on May 5, 2012 of cardiovascular disease while heading to a fly-fishing site near Baltimore. He was only 66.
Bob Rosenthal accomplished much during his life. He attended the College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University and was conferred the degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1968. During the following three years, he served the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps at the Gerontology Research Center in Baltimore. In 1971, Bob left public health service for full-time private veterinary practice and built a successful veterinary clinic where he practiced for seven years. Soon after, Bob embarked on an academic path toward specialization. During the 1980s, Bob earned a master’s degree in veterinary clinical medicine, earned a PhD degree in veterinary pathology, and achieved board certification in small animal internal medicine and oncology from the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine after training at the University of Illinois. Bob also achieved board certification in radiation oncology from the American College of Veterinary Radiology in 1996, counted among the first cohort to sit the certifying examination. Not yet finished with his education, he returned to school to earn a master’s degree in environmental science from George Mason University in 2009.
Dr. Rosenthal was a loved professor, lecturing on internal medicine and oncology at University of Illinois and University of Wisconsin until 1991. After academia, Bob took his passion for veterinary oncology into private practice. He practiced for 11 years at Veterinary Specialists of Rochester in New York. During that time, he also held an adjunct appointment at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. In 2002, he left Rochester for a position at South Paws Veterinary Referral Center in the Washington DC metro area, practicing until a move to Seattle in 2010. He also consulted for 17 years for Veterinary Information Network.
Throughout his career, Dr. Rosenthal’s work has been published in veterinary medical journals and textbooks, covering topics from bone marrow transplantation and innovative chemotherapy protocols to split course radiation therapy for mast cell tumors, as well as the use of tumor markers to monitor response to therapy and relapse. He also gave back to his professional organizations by serving on the ACVIM Internal Medicine and Oncology Examination Committees as well as on the Organizing Committee for the Specialty of Oncology.
More importantly, Bob was exceptional at balancing his work life with his other passions: family and friends, banjo playing, contra dancing, fly fishing, hiking and canoeing. He made a significant impact on those who counted him as a mentor and friend throughout his 44 years as a veterinarian. Those who knew Bob Rosenthal will miss him greatly.
Dr. Rosenthal was survived by his beloved wife of 42 years, Bobbie; children, Leah and Sam (Ivy); and grandsons, Eli and Isaac.
KARI ANDERSON
Chair – ACVR Memoriam Committee
We acknowledge and appreciate the information provided in part by Phyllis DeGioia & Jennifer Fiala of the VIN News Service.