David H. Rosenstein, of Mercer Island, WA and Albuquerque, NM, passed away on April 10, 2018, at the age of 83. David was a profound and independent thinker, whose warm, non-judgmental acceptance of others led to close and diverse friendships. He pursued gardening, literature, hiking, bicycling and cross-country skiing, but he was most proud of his “three careers”: doctor, violinmaker and grandpa. He poured himself into care of his patients, who knew that he’d do everything in his power for them. As his psychiatric practice wound down, he spent more time carving stringed instruments of immense beauty and exquisite function. He collected many friends around the instruments, including special ones at Bischofberger Violins in Seattle. But he’d always say that his children and grandchildren were his greatest accomplishment, as he patiently built unique, meaningful connections with each.

David was born December 17, 1934, in Pittsburgh, PA, to Thomas and Anna (Fierman) Rosenstein. He graduated from Washington & Jefferson College and completed medical school at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He served in the 101st Airborne Division of the US Army, narrowly avoiding a parachute jump into Cuba.

Following medical school, David married the former Beth S. Verman on September 18, 1960. The new couple settled in Topeka, KS, where David practiced with the Menninger Clinic, until the family moved to Jerusalem in 1970. A year later, the family relocated to Albuquerque, where David made the backyard bloom with everything from sunflowers to kohlrabi. In the 1990s, David and Beth began spending part of each year in the Seattle area, eventually settling on Mercer Island in 2002 to be near five of their grandchildren.

Family members surviving David include his children, Ruth (Trev), Aaron (Jane) and Josh (Susie), his big brother, Yale (Barbara), and his seven grandchildren, Ezra, Aviva, Annie, Sam, Nathan, Jay and Wendy, all of whom loved him very much. David was predeceased in 2017 by Beth after 57 years of marriage. Although he’s no longer here, memories of him live within each of us.

Burial was on Friday, April 13, 2018, in Pittsburgh, PA. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Mercer Island Center for the Arts, PO Box 1702, Mercer Island, WA 98040.