Donald I. Rosen, Sr.

Donald I. Rosen, Sr., age 87, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, died August 6, 2015 at his home at Carlyle Place after battling Alzheimer's disease. Don's engineering background can be credited for his organizational skills and precise planning, even to the point of his writing his own obituary five years ago. Known by many as the consummate Southern Gentleman, he lived a full and happy life with no regrets. A memorial service will be held at Temple Beth Israel, 892 Cherry St. in Macon on Tuesday August 11, 2015 at 11am with Rabbi Laurence Schlesinger officiating. Preceding the service will be a private burial in the Elkan Mausoleum at William Wolff Cemetery. Visitation will be at Hart's at the Cupola, 6324 Peake Rd., Macon, 31210 on Monday August 10, 2015 from 5-7pm. Don, son of the late Anne Rosen Hoffman and Sam Rosen, was born in Savannah, GA on January 15, 1928. His family moved around the south during his youth and settled in Marietta, GA where he graduated from Marietta High in 1945. He enrolled at the Georgia Institute of Technology for one semester before joining the Navy at age 17. After WWII, he returned to Georgia Tech where he graduated as a Mechanical Engineer in 1949. He was a diehard Georgia Tech fan to the end. Being a lifelong teetotaler, Don's first job ironically was at the Seagram's Distillery in Louisville, KY. Deciding this was not the job for him, he moved back to Georgia and worked as an engineer at Robins AFB for a short period of time before being recalled by the military for the Korean conflict. His service was with the Air Force, and he was a Second Lieutenant stationed at Keesler AFB in Biloxi, Mississippi. Don met his future bride Kaye Elkan from Macon at the Jewish social event of the year Ballyhoo in Atlanta in 1950. She was the platonic date of Don's fraternity brother and good friend from Warner Robins at the time (still friends to the death). They were married in 1952 in Macon by the same Rabbi that married Kaye's parents AND grandparents almost 60 years earlier. They lived in Biloxi until he was discharged from the service in 1953. They moved to Macon, and Don joined his father-in-law Stanley Elkan in the life insurance business with MassMutual. He had a fulfilling and long career and a profound impact on his clients and friends. His industry accolades were many: He was a CLU (Chartered Life Underwriter) and a ChFC (Chartered Financial Consultant). He was a Life and Qualifying Member of the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) dating back to 1958. He was President of the Macon Association of Life Underwriters, Macon Chapter of CLU's, and the Life Insurance Leaders of Georgia. Don was also philanthropic and loved his adopted home of Macon. He was President of many area civic and faith-based organizations: the Medcen Community Foundation at Navicent Health, the Children's Hospital Navicent Health, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Georgia, the Macon Area Georgia Tech Club, the Macon Lions Club, Mount de Sales Academy, Temple Beth Israel, the Mayor's Presidents Club of Macon, and the Macon Symphony Orchestra. He was a director of the Macon Chapter of the American Red Cross, the Bibb County Home Health Advisor Committee, and Project Smile. He served as Secretary/Treasurer of the Macon Concert Association for many years and received a special cultural award from the Macon Arts Alliance for his contribution in supporting the arts in our community. He was a member of the Macon Estate Planning Council, Idle Hour Country Club and the Callaway Society at Navicent Health (formerly Medical Center of Central GA). Don had a great love for music and travel. He traveled to more than 70 countries around the world and was seen at most music and cultural events in Middle Georgia. His legacy will be remembered by the hundreds and hundreds of video tapes of home movies, world travels, classical musical events, TV and sports specials. It was well known that Don was a gadget fanatic and professed to have the first of most anything electronic; whether it be a VCR, electronic watch, projection TV, movie camera with sound, computer, etc. If it was new to the market, he bought it. Don was lucky to have found love twice in his life. After Kaye's passing, he married long time family friend Eleanor Futch who was a wonderful wife and great partner to him and a loving caregiver in his declining years. Don was predeceased by his wife Kaye Elkan Rosen, his sister Frances R. Alper, and his brother Marvin D. Gray. He is survived by his present wife Eleanor Futch Rosen, his three sons, Stanley Elkan Rosen (Susan) of Lenox, MA, Donald I Rosen, Jr. of Alpena, MI, and Glenn A. Rosen (Christina) of Macon, step-children Jeanne Lewis (Sam) of Roswell, GA, Laurie Chapman (Rusty) of Macon, Trey Futch (Sandy) of Lawrenceville, GA, grandchildren Lauren Rosen, Colin Rosen and Tristan Rosen of Lenox, MA, Courtney V. Vining (Jeff) of El Paso, TX, Gabrielle Rosen and Sydney Rosen of Atlanta, Sophie Rosen of Macon, 3 great-grandchildren, brother George L. Rosen (Sandy) of Houston, TX ,numerous nieces and nephews, step-grandchildren and a step-great grandchild. In lieu of flowers, Don requested that donations be made to Temple Beth Israel, 892 Cherry St. Macon, GA 31201, the Macon Symphony Orchestra, 400 Poplar St. Macon, GA 31201, Heartland Hospice, 3312 Northside Dr., d250, Macon, GA 31210, Alzheimer's Association, 886 Mulberry St., Macon, GA 31201 or a charity of the donor's choice. Register online at www.hartsmort.com. Hart's Mortuary at the Cupola has charge of arrangements.