Gil Rosenthal, longtime Port resident and Japanese-garden designer, passes away at 82

Gil Rosenthal, a resident of Port Washington for more than 50 years, passed away at North Shore University Hospital Wednesday morning, July 26, from pneumonia, a complication of his decade-long battle with Parkinson’s disease.

Mr. Rosenthal was known locally for his design of Japanese Gardens, many of which adorn homes in Port, Manhasset, and Great Neck, as well as in brownstones in Brooklyn. His work was also frequently featured at the Sands Point Preserve Designer Showcase.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, Mr. Rosenthal fell in love with the tranquility of Japanese Gardens during an elementary school trip to the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens. Despite that he lived in a part of the city with few green spaces, the experience spurred a life-long interest in horticulture and garden design. He moved with his family to Lynbrook on Long Island’s south shore when he was 15 and graduated from Lynbrook High School in 1952 and Hofstra College (now University) in 1956. Also in 1956, he married his childhood sweetheart, Annette Feldman, who survives him.

He is also survived by their children, Deborah Mastrocinque of Port Washington, and Robert Rosenthal and his wife, Kristen Simone, of Manhattan; and grandchildren Jaclyn Mastrocinque, Andrew Mastrocinque, and Jared Rosenthal.

His funeral will be held Friday, July 28, at the Community Synagogue in Port Washington. Donations in Mr. Rosenthal’s memory may be made to the Community Synagogue or the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.