Miriam Teplit Rosenthal

Obituary for Miriam Teplit Rosenthal

Mimi died on December 24, at home surrounded by her loving family. She lived a long and productive life in Oak Ridge, and was 96 years old.

Born in Memphis on February 15, 1928, she grew up in Lambert, Mississippi, where she graduated from Lambert Consolidated Schools, valedictorian of her class. She attended Louisiana State University, where she served as president of Sigma Delta Tau, and on the boards of YWCA, Phi Kappa Omicron (Home Economics housing), and Phi Kappa Phi. Tapped for Mortar Board, she graduated with a B.S. in Food and Nutrition. Mimi met her husband, Murray Rosenthal, at LSU, and they married after graduation. Moving to Cambridge, Massachusetts, Murray completed his doctorate at MIT. In 1953, they moved to Oak Ridge for the rest of their marriage.

She continued her community service as president of the League of Women Voters, on the boards of the PTA, the Campfire Girls, and led Campfire groups for several years. She enjoyed gardening, reading, knitting, quilting and was a gourmet cook. She co-edited the last edition of the Oak Ridge Cooks Again.

In the mid 1980s, she served on the Governor’s Education Task Force and on the Committee of 50 task force to study the county charter. In 1985 she was elected to the Anderson County Election Commission.

Mimi will be particularly remembered for the groups that came to her house for instruction or meals. She taught ballet to the young neighborhood girls, flag twirling to a Campfire Girls group, and cooking classes for ORICL. She greatly enjoyed being hostess to family, friends, Murray’s business associates, and the monthly “Monday Thing” lunchtime gathering of Oak Ridge women.

She said her two children were the best thing she ever did. She was warm and caring and endlessly supportive of friends’ and family members’ goals and achievements. Mimi is survived by her daughter Elaine Rosenthal of St. George Island, her son Douglas and his wife Kristin and their son Joshua of Alexandria Virginia, and her loving spouse of 73 years, Murray.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Roane State Foundation (276 Patton Ln, / Harriman, TN 37748) or Emory Valley Center (723 Emory Valley Rd. / Oak Ridge, TN 37830). There will not be a public memorial service.