Rosemarie Stine Mendelsohn

Rosemarie Stine Mendelsohn
1915-2015

Rosemarie Stine Mendelsohn was born August 19, 1915 in Gary, Indiana, the only daughter of immigrant parents Fannie Lypski Stine and Jacob Israel Stine. She had two brothers, Sidney and Robert, both of whom preceded her in death, Robert at age 16 and Sidney at age 99.

Rosemarie was a proud member of the Mayer-Lypski family and counted among her close cousins the late Nobel Prize winner in Economics, Dr. Paul Samuelson, Stanley Ratner and Dr. Robert Summers. She was the last of what the family called "The Cousin Club," cousins close in age who grew up together.

She was married and divorced when she met Donald D. Maxwell in Chicago, Illinois. They became a couple in 1972, until his death in 1996. Rosemarie and Don lived together in Chicago, until he retired and they moved to Ft. Lauderdale, FL. While she had no children, Rosemarie embraced Don's daughters and their children as her own. They are Gail Maxwell (William) Plater (Indianapolis, IN), Virginia Maxwell (Max E.) Weiss (San Diego, CA) and Jennifer Maxwell Hadick (Kirkland, IL). Don has six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

She was a graduate of Emerson High School, Gary, IN and attended the University of Chicago. During her life, Rosemarie was employed in various capacities, but her most enjoyable role was working with the Playboy Clubs securing talent for the nightclub shows, auditioning and signing entertainers in a fast paced environment. She retired from an international food import company based in Chicago. She enjoyed travel to Brazil, Canada, France, Israel, Alaska, the Virgin Islands and to visit friends and family around the country.

Upon moving to Ft. Lauderdale, Rosemarie became involved with the arts community as a volunteer for the Ft. Lauderdale Art Museum. She enjoyed theater, symphony and other musical entertainments in the Ft. Lauderdale and Miami communities, as well as the company of old and new friends. She was a life long swimmer, continuing her passion for daily swims until health issues forced her to move to Aventura, Florida where she could live in a senior community that, to her regret, did not have a pool. To compensate for that loss, she began a regimen of daily walks.

She enjoyed the contact with new friends in her new home, but when she detected she would need additional care, chose to move to Indianapolis, IN to be near Don's eldest daughter, Gail. In August, we celebrated Rosemarie's 100th birthday. Rosemarie passed away early December 7, 2015 following a fall several days earlier. She was in the good care of hospice at her death, and went peacefully in her sleep.

Others who cherish memories of Rosemarie include cousins Kaye (Don) Derman, New York City, NY, Selwin (Syril) Price, Highland Park, IL; and her brother Sidney's children, Caroline Stine, Colorado Springs, CO, Jeffrey Stine, Colorado Springs, CO, and Robert Stine of California.

In her last days, she was visited by several of those who have cared for her over the years, members of the team of caregivers at American Village Senior Care. Their thoughtfulness and words of appreciation for Rosemarie have been a comfort to all her family.

Per Rosemarie's last wishes, her remains have been cremated and will be committed to the ocean she loved. The family plans a private remembrance.

Rosemarie has established the Robert Stine Memorial Scholarship at the Indiana University Foundation in honor of her younger brother who died at such an early age. Contributions in her memory may be made to the Indiana University Foundation, for the Robert Stine Memorial Scholarship. Please indicate that your gift is IN MEMORY of Rosemarie S. Mendelsohn and mail your contribution to Indiana University Foundation, PO Box 6460, Indianapolis, IN 46206-6460. Please ask that Gail Plater be notified so that we can properly acknowledge your thoughtfulness.