YWCA Delaware to honor Maxine Rosenthal with garden tribute

YWCA Delaware will honor the late Maxine Rosenthal (1946–2023) with a plaque dedication on May 13. (Photo courtesy of ywcade)

WILMINGTON — YWCA Delaware will honor the late Maxine Rosenthal (1946–2023) with a plaque dedication on May 13 at 1 p.m. at its Home Life Management Center at 709 N. Madison Street, recognizing her years of service and commitment to advancing women’s empowerment.

The plaque, which will be installed in the garden of the center, will read: “In memory of Maxine Rosenthal, YWCA Delaware board member. She touched countless lives through her dedicated leadership and commitment to empowering all women.” The organization also plans to create a walkway of tribute bricks around the garden in her memory.

Rosenthal volunteered her time and talents to several causes she was passionate about, including women’s economic empowerment, mental health advocacy, and the arts. She was one of the founders and a chairman of the Delaware Community Foundation’s Fund for Women, and served on the board and committees of YWCA Delaware. She also held leadership roles with the Mental Health Association in Delaware, serving as both a board member and president, and was actively involved with the Delaware Center for Contemporary Arts, where she served as treasurer of the board of directors.

YWCA Delaware CEO Melissa Gonville thanked Jay Rosenthal, Maxine’s husband, for helping to establish the permanent tribute.

“Maxine put her extraordinary talents to work helping women achieve their dreams through the programs of YWCA Delaware. Our board, volunteers and staff will be forever grateful for her commitment to women’s economic empowerment through her life of kindness and service,” Gonville said.

More information about Rosenthal’s civic contributions and accomplishments can be found in her obituary at delawareonline.com.

Claudia Estrada

Claudia is a Philadelphia-based journalist and reporter passionate about storytelling that informs and engages the community. Claudia, a proud Temple University graduate, has built a career covering impactful stories and creating compelling content across digital and print media platforms. With a strong background in writing, editing, and research, Claudia has worked on various topics, from local news to in-depth features, always striving to deliver meaningful and accurate reporting.