DAVID L. ROSENZWEIG

David Lee Rosenzweig, prominent attorney and businessman died February 1, 2025, in Austin, Texas, due to complications from diabetes, Parkinson’s and dementia. He was 85 years old.

David had a wicked sense of humor, loved helping others, and was amazing in a crisis. Born in Pottsville, Pennsylvania on June 17, 1939, his family moved to Baltimore, Maryland before settling in Youngstown, Ohio. In his youth, David enjoyed building and flying radio-controlled model airplanes and played guitar and drums in a local band. While attending Liberty High School, he worked numerous parttime jobs to help support his family.

After graduating from high school, David majored in English at Youngstown (State) University in Youngstown, Ohio, graduating with a degree in Education. While there, David founded the Zeta Beta Tau (ZBT) fraternity chapter and served as their first President. During this time, he also met and courted fellow Penguin, Nancy Plant (who he affectionately called “Miss Flower”) while working together at Strouss’ department store. The two were married by Rabbi Sydney Berkowitz at Rodef Sholom Temple in a small ceremony on July 25, 1964.

After teaching English for several years, David found his passion attending (Case) Western Reserve University School of Law. He graduated in 1968 at the top of his class, inducted into the Order of the Coif and serving as Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review. Following graduation, David joined the law firm of Squire, Sanders & Dempsey in Cleveland but soon caught the attention of one of the firm’s top clients, Union Commerce Bank, and was recruited by their President to become Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the bank’s holding company.

In 1979 with only a two-room office and his loyal secretary, David opened what would ultimately become Rosenzweig, Schulz & Gillombardo. Always detail-oriented, David took great pride in hand-picking each lamp, window treatment and piece of artwork for the office. As managing partner, David specialized in banking, business, and real estate development law. He later merged the practice as partner with McCarthy, Lebit, Crystal & Liffman.

A phenomenal dancer, David and his wife, Nancy, could be found dancing until dawn at the center of the dancefloor throughout the late 1970s, as a partner at Nite Moves, Cleveland’s hottest nightclub. In the 1980’s David also co-founded General Entertainment Management with Dan Garfinkel, in which they represented many successful bands and artists in the entertainment industry.

For 25 years, David volunteered his time leading monthly meetings for Cleveland’s Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE) where he and other business leaders shared insights and ideas to improve their company’s performance. Starting in 1993, David found great joy and success working with his sons, Daniel and Jeremy Holden, investing in real estate in Las Vegas, Nevada.

David never met a carb he didn’t like, and food remained one of his greatest joys up to his last day – along with animals, music, dancing and his devoted wife, Nancy. He was preceded in death by his father, Saul Rosenzweig and his mother, Ethel (Joseph) Rosenzweig. He is survived by his sisters, Linda (Rosenzweig) Levine of Pembroke Pines, Florida, and Abra (Carol) Rosenzweig of Newton, Massachusetts, as well as his wife of 60 years, Nancy (Plant) Rosenzweig and daughter, Susan Rosenzweig of Austin, Texas, and his twin sons, Daniel and Jeremy Holden of Las Vegas, Nevada.

Contributions in David’s memory are suggested to his Parkinson’s boxing gym, Fitness 413, or the ASPCA as he was a fierce protector of animals everywhere. An early August memorial is being planned in Cleveland to celebrate his life. And yes, there will be dancing.

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