Martha K. Rothman, editor of the Arizona Jewish Post from 1967 to 1979, died July 2, 2014 at the age of 89.
Mrs. Rothman was also the founder of the Tucson Association for Child Care, later renamed Child and Family Resources, where she served as executive director from its inception in 1970 until her retirement in 2004. The organization grew out of her volunteer work with the National Council of Jewish Women and the United Way.
“Martha Rothman was one of Tucson’s great visionaries and what she did for children and families made Tucson a better place. I was in awe of her energy and devotion to her cause,” says Marilyn Heins, M.D., a longtime friend.
In a 2006 interview with the AJP, Rothman spoke of her years at the newspaper (then known as the Arizona Post), a “down home” operation for a smaller, close-knit Jewish community. “It was very important to have your picture in the paper,” she said, recalling that she not only created the pages, but with her children’s help, “ran the papers through the addressograph, then schlepped those heavy papers to the post office.
Born in Pittsburgh, Pa., Mrs. Rothman graduated from Alderdice High School. She received a B.A. in home economics education from Carnegie Mellon University in 1947. She worked as a teacher until her marriage to the late Samuel Rothman in 1948. In 1962, she and her family moved to Tucson. Survivors include her children, Frances Stoler and T. Todd (Lanny) Rothman, both of Tucson; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Services were held at Temple Emanu-El with Rabbi Samuel M. Cohon officiating. Interment followed in the Temple Emanu-El section at Evergreen Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Casa de los Niños, the Tucson Pima Arts Council or www.Donorschoose.org.
