Dick Rosenthal, Director of Athletics the University of Notre Dame from 1987-94, passed away at the age of 91 on June 11, 2024.
Rosenthal oversaw several key developments in Notre Dame Athletics history, including the first exclusive television contract with NBC in 1991, the move of Irish Olympic sports into the BIG EAST Conference in 1995 and the expansion of Notre Dame Stadium from just over 59,000 seats to 80,000 for the 1997 season.
Notre Dame added six women’s varsity sports during Rosenthal’s tenure (golf, soccer, softball, track and field, lacrosse and rowing) and he served on the NCAA’s Gender Equity Task Force. In 1991, Rosenthal was among the ‘100 Most Powerful People In Sports’ by The Sporting News, the only collegiate athletics director to make the list at 37th.
Born January 20, 1933 in St. Louis, Missouri, Rosenthal was one of the greatest players in Notre Dame Basketball history. Upon the completion of his Notre Dame career in 1954 he ranked as the program’s all-time leading scorer (1,227 points) and captained the 1953-54 Irish to an 18-game win streak and a victory over top-ranked Indiana to advance to the NCAA Elite Eight.
Rosenthal was a Byron Kanaley Awardwinner in his senior year at Notre Dame, the highest award a Notre Dame student-athlete can earn for their accomplishments on and off the court. Notre Dame Athletics’ GLD Center features the Rosenthal Leadership Academy, which aims to develop and enhance strong leadership on the University’s sports teams with progressive annual programming for emerging and existing leaders.
Drafted by the Fort Wayne Pistons in the first round of the 1954 NBA Draft, Rosenthal appeared in 85 games for the Pistons over three years before retiring to pursue a successful banking career. He was the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of St. Joseph Bank and Trust Company in South Bend before being named Notre Dame Director of Athletics in 1987.
Rosenthal is survived by Charlotte V. Rosenthal, his loving wife for the last 25 years; and eight living children: Kathy Bax (Michael), John Rosenthal (Mary), Lori Rosenthal, Joe Rosenthal (Blanca), Carol McClory (Michael), Ellen Bruneel (David), Susan Braun (Andy), and Mary Pat Davis (Scott). He is also survived by his 21 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; four stepchildren; ten step-grandchildren; a cousin, Jo Ann Lorek; and many extended family members.
Preceding him in death were his beloved wife of 41 years, Marylyn; his infant son, Richard Peter; his parents, John and Bertha; and his brother, Robert (JoAnn).A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at The Basilica of the Sacred Heart on the campus of the University of Notre Dame on Wednesday, June 26, 2024 at 2:30 p.m. The Mass will be live-streamed at basilica.nd.edu/sacraments/funerals/funerals-livestream/