Authorities have identified a Petaluma couple killed in a single-vehicle accident in Novato early Sunday morning.
According to the Marin Independent Journal, Donald Rosenthal, 84, and Elsie Maxwell Rosenthal, 70, died when their SUV struck a concrete pillar at the Highway 101 and 37 interchange. Elsie was a prominent figure in the community, having served as a Chief Investment Officer for Bank of America and a longtime board member for Marin Humane.
Her colleagues remembered her as a devoted advocate for animal rescue, while Donald was a retired airline pilot and former restaurant owner. The California Highway Patrol is still investigating the cause of the late-night crash.
Friends and nonprofit leaders say the loss of the “big-hearted” pair is a devastating blow to local rescue efforts.
