The arts enriched her life

Armed with an associate’s degree and her love of the arts, Marge Rosen-Gutmann served as the director of Cultural Arts for the Town of Hempstead for 24 years.

“The arts were her form of expression,” said her daughter Amy Rosen, who remembers her mother fondly. “She was wonderful and outgoing, she didn’t let a minute to go by.”

And Rosen-Gutmann didn’t waste time. Born on Sept. 30, 1938, she grew up in Forest Hills, Queens, then Atlantic Beach. She graduated from Lawrence High School and earned an associate’s degree from Finch College in New York City (it no longer exists), but her love of museums, plays and music lasted her lifetime.

“She did many things, she did a lot for senior citizens offering them trips to New York City for museums and Broadway plays,” said William Gutmann, Rosen-Gutmann’s husband.

There were also summer shows at parks throughout Hempstead that included big-name acts such as Benny Goodman, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison and many others. “She enjoyed everything, she loved putting it together and she loved her staff,” Amy said. “She was admired by her family. She was great.”

Rosen-Gutmann was also involved in the Five Towns Music and Arts Foundation and in her position oversaw Rock Hall Museum. After her retirement from the town, Museum Director Linda Barreira recruited Rosen-Gutman for the Friends of Rock Hall board. “Marge always maintained a dignity about herself and toward others,” Barreira said. “She was an organization person who geared herself towards the enrichment of her community through volunteerism.”

A Woodmere resident since 1968, Rosen-Gutmann died at home on Oct. 22. She was 73.

Her first husband, federal Judge Lester Rosen, predeceased her in 1995. They were married for 34 years. In addition to William Gutmann and Amy Rosen, Rosen-Gutmann is survived by a son, Jason (Melanie), and two grandchildren, Lindsey and Sydney Rosen.

She was interred at Mt. Golda Cemetery in Huntington Station.