Arlene Rosenblatt

Sept. 4, 1934 - April 22, 2023

Arlene Rosenblatt Born September 4, 1934 Died April 22, 2023 Arlene was a giver. Her heart was huge and it fed her soul to give to others. From family to community to temple to work, if there was a need or a new idea that could be brought to fruition by good work, Arlene made it happen. She brought love, lightness, compassion and laughter everywhere she went. Born in Los Angeles in 1934 as Rose Arlene Arenson, her life was transformed when she met her beloved Sid at the tender age of 14 while delivering rival newspapers. United by love, they embarked on their lifetime journey together. Once love bloomed, she thought better of “Rose Rosenblatt” and became Arlene Rosenblatt. As a new mother and fresh UCLA grad, Arlene found her perfect job, substitute teaching, giving her fulfilling work and time with her three children Mark, Ronald, and Julie. When her kids were in middle and high school, they often heard from friends, “We had your mom today.” Arlene turned to full-time teaching around 1978. In her career she had to follow the times and shift from teaching shorthand to typing to keyboarding and computers. At San Fernando High School, Arlene established an FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) branch encouraging students to gain business skills and running a mentoring program with local businesses. This gave students who wouldn’t have been exposed to this kind of learning a chance to excel in places they wouldn’t have even known they could. She retired at age 62, and she and Sid moved from Sherman Oaks to Santa Monica, living near the beach they loved and also part-time in Bainbridge, WA with her daughter Julie and her family. Over the years, Arlene and Sid maintained a broad group of friends, including the Big Wheels Havara, which initially was for families with young children and centered on riding bikes in the 1970’s. Out of this they developed a group of lifelong friends. They were also active across their beloved temples, Beth Hillel, Makom Ohr Shalom, Westside Chavura, and Ahavat Torah, from organizing auctions, leading Tu Bish Vat, and assuming leadership positions. After losing her beloved Sid in 2021, Arlene joined her family on Bainbridge Island. She returned to the book group she had founded 25 years before and to the friends she had made organizing the building of the Island’s most beloved park. Arlene’s legacy of compassion, dedication, selflessness, inclusion and infectious laughter will forever inspire all those fortunate enough to know her. She will be dearly missed by her three children, Julie, Ron, and Mark; her grandchildren, Judd, Bex, Tom, Jake, Eli, Mira, and Bayla; and great-grandchildren Ryder, Jax, Brooklyn, Trent, and Leo. Donations in Arlene’s memory may be made either to the ACLU.org, Hais.org, or WINEP. Memorial service to be held at 5pm, May 8th at Ahavat Shalom, 343 S Church Ln, Los Angeles.