Marion Eisendrath Rosenbluth, 97, of Chicago died peacefully on July 27, 2025, surrounded by her family.
She was born April 4, 1928, in Chicago, to Louise Sulzberger Eisendrath and Edwin W. Eisendrath. A lifelong Chicagoan, Marion and her brother Edwin W. Eisendrath Jr. grew up in the Lakeview neighborhood in a house filled with music and culture. Her large family is woven into the fabric of the city and includes many business and civic leaders.
In 1950 she married Paul R. Rosenbluth, a prominent neurosurgeon. They had five children.
Raconteur, reader, teacher and world traveler, she led a full life. In addition to raising her children, she was drawn to the world of ideas and psychology. Marion attended Francis W. Parker School, as did her father, her children, and many grandchildren. She received a BA degree from her beloved Harvard University (then Radcliffe), a Master’s degree in social work from Catholic University of America and, after a long hiatus from the halls of academia, at 57 years old she earned a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois in psychiatric social work. She maintained a private practice and taught aspiring social workers as an adjunct professor at Loyola University of Chicago.
Deeply committed to public service, Marion was involved with numerous organizations, including the Radcliffe Club of Chicago, the Institute of Psychiatry, the Asher Center for the Study and Treatment of Depression Disorders, and on various civic boards, including the University of Chicago Women’s Board, Dwight Women’s Correctional Facility Advisory Board, and the Yale University Child Study Center. She passionately supported the arts and progressive social causes.
Always a voracious reader and keen intellect, Marion was particularly drawn to historical fiction and was an engaging partner in discussions ranging from Victorian England, the New Deal, Freudian theory to current politics. Her quick wit and sense of humor made her an excellent dinner companion. She cultivated a group of friends of all ages whom she phoned at dawn and met daily for pancakes and a bottomless cup of coffee.
Forging lifelong connections, Marion treasured adventures with her family and the “tough old birds,” an intrepid flock of friends with whom she hiked and traveled. She was among the first westerners to visit China when it opened its doors to the outside world. She rode camels in Egypt, explored ancient ruins in Europe, and ventured to Alaska with family and friends. When her husband was stationed in Korea in 1952, she moved for a year to Japan with her eldest child in tow. In the 1960’s, she became a skiing and hiking enthusiast and developed a circle of friends in Aspen, Colorado where she had a home and spent many happy days.
Marion had an intense curiosity and joie de vivre that delivered a life filled with interesting people and experiences. She loved social gatherings and brought her boundless energy, curiosity, and humor to every room she entered. A questionable cook, she loved to entertain in her eclectic and elegant home, where friends and family could look forward to excellent conversation, mystery meat and over-steamed vegetables. Somewhere she is having an early breakfast, flirting with the waiter, sipping an endless stream of coffee, and feeding a small piece of toast to her beloved dachshund, Momo.
Marion was preceded in death by her parents and her husband. She is survived by her five children, Daniel (Karla) Rosenbluth, Jane (David) Baldwin, Thomas (Vicki) Rosenbluth, James (Allegra Di Bonaventura) Rosenbluth and Catherine “Kitty” (David) Rothschild and sixteen grandchildren; Angela Allen, Jennifer Solbach, Adrianne Rosenbluth, Sam Baldwin, Charlie Baldwin, Jesse Rosenbluth, Jake Rosenbluth, Tommy Rosenbluth, Ben Rosenbluth, John Rosenbluth, Will Rosenbluth, Andrew Hogan, Aless Hogan, Nathan Rothschild, Julian Rothschild and Gabriel Rothschild; three great grandchildren, Lucy, Gene, Josie and one on the way.
A celebration of her life is planned for the fall.
To honor her memory, please consider a contribution to Francis W. Parker School of Chicago, or a charity of your choice.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Wagner Family Funerals Connelly Chapel, Cassopolis. Please share a memory or a message online: wagnercares.com.
Posted On: Friday, August 1, 2025 12:16 PM
