Gail Hirsch Rosenthal, a trailblazer in Holocaust Education and a 30+ year veteran at Stockton University, passed away on Friday, October 13, 2023, at the age of 77. In a statement released by Stockton University’s President Joe Bertolino, he said, “It is with profound sadness I share that Stockton University has lost one of its most ardent leaders, Gail Hirsch Rosenthal, director of the Sara and Sam Schoffer Holocaust Resource Center. Gail passed away this morning, leaving behind an enduring legacy of passion and devotion to ensuring the stories of resilience and rescue during the Holocaust are told.”

Rosenthal leaves behind a legacy of leadership and perseverance. She played a pivotal role in integrating Holocaust Education into Stockton’s curriculum by creating the Holocaust and Genocide Studies minor and the Master of Arts in Holocaust and Genocide Studies. Bertolino’s statement continued; “Through her connections to the local Jewish community, what began as a single closet housing oral histories of local Holocaust survivors grew to include two classrooms, an exhibit room, and the Holocaust Survivors of South Jersey Research Room. The original room, now named the Gail Hirsch Rosenthal room, opened in 1990.” 

Rosenthal played a crucial role in garnering substantial financial support and establishing robust alliances to secure the Center’s enduring future, which included The Schimmel and Hoogenboom Righteous Remembrance Room and Exhibition, funded by Leo Ullman, which opened in 2019. The University of Southern California Shoah Foundation shared the dimensions of the Testimony Interactive Biography Program of Holocaust survivor Ed Mosberg with the Center; the only one of its kind in an educational center. Claire’s Classroom, funded by Norman and Micki (Kosden) Massry in honor of their mother, which opened in 2023, and The Holocaust Survivors of New Jersey Research Room, funded by Leo Schoffer, which also opened in 2023. 

Alongside Professor Michael Hayse, she spearheaded twelve immersive educational excursions to Europe and Israel, where students and members of the community explored significant Holocaust and Jewish historical sites. These experiences proved transformative for numerous students, forging enduring connections not only within the local community but also with Holocaust survivors and the descendants of those who endured the Second Generation after the Shoah. Gail served as a relentless advocate and managed an impressive array of over 200 events exclusively sponsored by the Holocaust Resource Center in the current year. These gatherings collectively engaged a substantial audience of almost 18,000 individuals.

Ms. Rosenthal is commemorated by her peers as an innovative pioneer and an unwavering proponent of the Jewish community. Former Stockton University President, Dr. Harvey Kesselman told The Argo, “I had the privilege of working with Gail for more than thirty years.  Simply stated, her impact at Stockton has been extraordinary.  With skill, passion, persistence, and love, she built and stewarded Stockton’s most internationally renowned center and positively influenced the lives of thousands of our students as well as those from the K-12 sector of education. She will be missed immensely by all of us at Stockton and beyond, and has left a legacy that will be impossible to replicate.”

Erin O’Hanlon, professor of Communication Studies, told the Argo, “I first met Gail as a high school student at Oakcrest High School. My principal Dennis Foreman introduced me to Gail and Mr. Kaleem Shabazz as part of the Human Rights Coalition that Gail had helped to found in the 1990’s. She quickly convinced me to not only apply to Stockton, but also to enter an essay contest that the Holocaust Resource Center was running. After I was accepted into Stockton and received the Charles C. Reynolds Scholarship, Gail always picked up the phone to answer my questions and check in with me.”

Dr. Carol Rittner, former Professor of Holocaust & Genocide Studies commented, “Gail Rosenthal was one extraordinary person. A wonderful teacher, a great colleague, a person totally dedicated to students, a creative and energetic director of Stockton University’s Holocaust Resource Center. My experience of Gail over the nearly 30 years that I knew her is that she encouraged the development of Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Stockton University, was always ready to support me — and many of my colleagues — in our efforts to engage in research, create new courses, and to travel to conferences in the USA, Israel, and elsewhere.” 

“Gail Rosenthal put the Sara and Sam Schoffer Holocaust Resource Center on the map internationally, forged strong ties with the community locally, and should also be remembered for her quiet philanthropy. She helped needy students with whatever was needed, from bushfire to winter coats. In addition, she provided strong support for local, often isolated Holocaust survivors and, with Dr. McCloughlin, saw to it that their stories found permanence in print. Finally, her exemplary work led to numerous donations for scholarships,” said Dr. Jan Colijn, retired Dean of General Studies.

Professor Mary Johnson, who was a 40-year friend of Rosenthal told The Argo, “Gail Rosenthal has been an inspiration to Holocaust scholars, educators, and survivors for many decades, and she shared her work with Holocaust centers throughout the United States and other countries. I worked with Gail attending and presenting at Holocaust conferences, and she offered invaluable ideas for teaching the Holocaust in an effective and memorable manner. I also had the privilege of teaching the Holocaust at Stockton with Gail and saw her devotion to helping students understand the lessons of the Holocaust at all hours. The Sara and Sam Schoffer Holocaust Resource Center is a testimony to Gail’s work.”

Her enduring legacy at Stockton University will persist through her daughter, Toby Rosenthal, who is a beloved Professor in the Communication Studies department. She told The Argo, “She was happy and proud to go out on a limb for students and all things Stockton. She was a tireless advocate. I would often hear her say, “I could never do this for my own children or grandchildren but I’ll see what I can do.” She added; “However, what she has done for us– her family, is serve as a role-model. Every day, my mom demonstrated generosity, humility, and kindness. Her enduring ability to multitask was a unique talent, as surely many have experienced in a variety of interactions. She was creative, fun, and caring.  Her compassion and ability to understand complex relationships is also noteworthy.”

The Argo reached out to Irvin O. Moreno-Rodriguez, Assistant Director of The Sara & Sam Schoffer Holocaust Resource Center for comment but did not hear back by publishing time.

Needless to say, Rosenthal’s impact on the Stockton community has been unyielding. To learn more about her passionate dedication to Jewish and Holocaust studies, you can visit The Sara & Sam Schoffer Holocaust Resource Center above Stockton University’s library.