Beatrice (Lewis) Rothe

Beatrice Rothe, 96, died at her Binghamton home on June 2, 2022. She was predeceased by her parents Philip and Leah Lewis, her husband of 66 years Dr. Irving Rothe, her siblings and in-laws Dr. Benjamin (Elaine) Lewis, Charles Lewis, Edith (Dr. Leo) Bell, Ann (Arthur) Shaw, Ida (Dr. Tilden) Prowda, Dr. Charles Rosenberg, and sister-in-law Florence (Howard) Rudner. Survived by her children James Rothe, Dr. Andrea Rothe, and Dr Marti (Thomas Grubelich) Rothe, grandchildren Alexandra (Dr. Ajay) Premkumar, Dr Jeffrey (Dr. Danielle Barcak) Shevach, Ethan and Tyler Grubelich, her sister Mary Rosenberg, brother-in-law Howard Rothe, great grandchildren Aria and Sai, numerous nieces and nephews, and grand-dogs Toby and Jack.

Beatrice was a lifelong Binghamtonian. She was born on 12/26/25, the last of seven at the family home on Tompkins St. to Jewish immigrants from Tsarist Russia. After a stint in Norwich, NY the family moved to Binghamton and ran a successful shoe store on Chenango St. on the northeast side of Binghamton.  Philip was known to donate shoes to some in dire need.

Bea excelled academically and athletically. She was valedictorian of every school she attended – West Junior, Binghamton Central High and Syracuse University, 1948. She was Phi Beta Kappa at Syracuse. She was the dominant local women’s tennis player, holding most of the singles and mixed doubles titles in Binghamton and Endicott through the 1940’s. She was Syracuse City champion in 1952. She was 1949’s Binghamton Press Woman Athlete of the Year. She continued to play tennis in her 60’s. Preternaturally fit into her nineties, she swam with her son at the Landsdowne, VA resort (site of her granddaughter’s 2018 wedding) as millennials tentatively dipped their toes.

Discouraged from pursuing a law degree because of gender bias endemic to the era, she worked after college as an editor for General Electric and social worker. After raising her family, she became her husband’s medical office manager. She was a shrewd steward of family finances. In the later years of his career, after Irving had joined Associates in Medicine, she cared for Alex and Jeff from their infancy through grammar school. She and Irv also helped with Marti’s kids, often traveling to Connecticut and Cape Cod to pitch in. She enjoyed trips to Florida to visit Andy and Marti when they trained in Miami, and seeing sister Mary and her husband Al. She was a long-time member of Temple Concord and Vestal Hills Country Club.

We will remember her for her vibrant intelligence, athleticism, generosity, kindness, and sense of noblesse oblige.

Graveside service was held on June 7, 2022 at Temple Israel Cemetery with Rabbi Geoffrey Brown as the officiant.

The family is eternally grateful to Lourdes Hospice, whose compassion and nursing skills enabled a bed-bound Beatrice to live out her final days at home with dignity and kindness.  Special thanks to Rose, whose patience, strength, adroitness, and gentleness never wavered.

Hopler & Eschbach Funeral Home assisted the family with their services.

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