Michael Louis Rosen

On Monday, April 14, 2025, at 10pm, Michael Louis Rosen died peacefully, surrounded by family members, in Lake Worth, Florida, from complications caused by hydrocephalus. He had a huge heart and the smile to match. He will be terribly missed by so many.

Michael was born on September 11, 1944, in the Midwood section of Brooklyn, and raised in the Jewish faith. He is preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Ruth Rosen; his sister, Trix Rosen; and his grandson, Silas Orion Gallagher. He is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Roberta Rosen née Shestack; his children, Lani, Jaimie, and Scott; Lani’s husband, Chris Gallagher, and their son, Zephyr; Jaimie’s husband, David Gutowski, and their sons, David and Marco; Scott’s wife, Laura Siciliano-Rosen, and their sons, Nicolo and Lorenzo; Michael’s brother, Alan Rosen, and his children, Amanda and Sean; his nephew, Adam, and his niece, Nicole.

As a child in Brooklyn, Michael loved the Dodgers and playing basketball and stickball with his friends. He and Roberta, two years his junior, both attended James Madison High School. While they dated, Michael followed in his pharmacist father’s footsteps and enrolled at Brooklyn College of Pharmacy. He began working with his dad and eventually bought the family pharmacy when Jack and Ruth retired to Florida.

Roberta, who had become smitten with Michael, eventually proposed marriage to him. He replied: “Sure, you’re a good kid. I’ll marry you.” Michael and Roberta were married in Brooklyn on December 25, 1967, and had their first child, Lani, in 1971. A year later, they moved to a sweet little community called Lakeridge in Old Bridge, NJ, where many lifelong friendships formed. Their second daughter, Jaimie, was born in 1973, and their son, Scott, in 1976. Michael continued to commute to Brooklyn to run the pharmacy, but ultimately decided he needed a change. He switched careers at age 36 and became a financial consultant, selling insurance. On his first day, he wore a suit and his family barely recognized him.

Michael was very successful in the insurance business; he was recognized as an Honor Agent and earned many awards and trips for his family. During the summer of 1986, Michael and Roberta bought a van and took their kids on an epic adventure around the U.S. Michael always had adventure in him; he and Roberta traveled extensively in their later years. On a group trip to Australia, he was the first (and only!) person to eat a live witchetty grub in the Outback.

In 2003, Michael and Roberta became snowbirds, spending a quarter, then half, of their year at The Fountains in Lake Worth, FL. Michael’s goal was to retire, like his dad, at age 60, and he succeeded at this. (He also jumped out of an airplane with his kids when he turned 60!) For more than two wonderful decades, Michael enjoyed an active life in sunny Florida, playing golf and tennis, going to the gym, doing yoga and boxing, reading books, playing cards, and dining out with their many friends. Even countless injuries did not stop him from doing the things he loved.

Everyone in Michael’s life loved his engaging smile and his kind, generous nature. He was always quick to laugh, and no one could make him laugh like Roberta. He leaves behind a legacy of a loving, tightly knit, good-humored family who will miss him deeply. Celebration of Life services will be held in Lake Worth on April 27 and at a later date up North.

You can plant a tree in honor of Michael here, via the Arbor Day Foundation.