Funeral Details

Rosenbaum, Mark Richard

Passed away July 31, 2025 at the age of 73, of being an old guy. Son of the late Irving Rosenbaum and the late Gloria Satin Rosenbaum. Married to Mary-Ann Wilson for 46 joy-filled years. As was said of John Adams: “He made a spectacular marriage and it made him a better man.” Father of smart, athletic, and successful children Libby Rosenbaum (Mike Raftery) and Ted Rosenbaum (Mandy Kovach). They gave him smart, athletic grandchildren Gus and Leo Raftery (twins) and Susanne and Louise Rosenbaum. Never-wrong big brother to N. Rosie Rosenbaum (Shimon Layani).

He grew up in Highland Park, Illinois, but lived in Evanston for more than 40 years. He went to Highland Park High School, where, among other interests, he ran cross-country and competed in track and field. He set school records in cross-country and in track and field. To his astonishment, he discovered that at least one of his records still stood when he went back for his 50th high school reunion.

He attended the University of Michigan where he majored in Chinese History (before even Nixon went to China). He competed in the long jump (decently) and the 400 (too slowly) but won a few letters along the way. He was a runner for 50 more years, running the 1979 and 1980 Chicago Marathons among other races, finally quitting in his 60s when his knees gave out. He then became a rower, which is much easier on the knees.

He went directly from Michigan to the University of Chicago Law School. When he graduated, he joined a firm, where he met his future wife. Back then female attorneys were coming out of law schools in increasing numbers and most law firms did not know how to deal with newly-minted female associates who were smarter than their established male partners, so there were rules against attorneys in the same firm dating each other. He had to move to a different firm before they could start dating. Mary-Ann became an estate planner. He used to say that they each knew just enough about each other’s area of practice to nod intelligently over dinner when he or she talked about the nuances of their respective practices or complained about the travails of the day.

He found his niche representing condominium associations and other similar associations. As a member of the Chicago Bar Association Subcommittee on Condominium Law he drafted or co-drafted a number of proposals that eventually were enacted into state law on the subject of condominiums and other similar associations. He hoped his proposals made the statutes easier to understand and to follow. He spent the last 25 or so years of his legal practice with the law firm Fischel | Kahn, in Chicago, retiring from the practice of law in 2024.

He coached youth baseball and soccer. He left work whenever possible to watch his children play football, baseball, volleyball, badminton, figure skating, and other sports too numerous to mention. He enjoyed the reflected glory of his children’s academic, athletic, and professional accomplishments. And best of all, he really enjoyed their company. Neither child became a lawyer. But as he often said: “Somebody has to be a client.”

He collected antique European maps of China. For many years, he was a member of the Chicago Map Society (of which his father had been a founding member) and served on the Board of the Society for nearly a decade.

He loved to go out in a kayak on Lake Michigan with his wife on summer Sunday mornings, before all the motorboats showed up. Out on the Lake it was quiet, with great views. It was calming.

Memorial service on Monday, August 4, 2025 at 4PM, Chicago Jewish Funerals, 8851 Skokie Blvd (at Niles Center Road), Skokie. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Chicago Map Society, c/o Newberry Library, 60 W. Walton, Chicago, IL 60610 www.chicagomapsociety.org. To view the livestream, please visit our website. Arrangements by Chicago Jewish Funerals - Skokie Chapel, 847.229.8822, www.cjfinfo.com