A true industry ‘pioneer,’ he started focusing on designing, developing MOBs in the 1960s
SAN DIEGO – It is with great sadness that HREI must report the passing of one of the HRE sector’s true pioneers and innovators, Bob Rosenthal, the founder of longtime HRE development and investment firm Pacific Medical Buildings, now known as PMB. Mr. Rosenthal died at 91 last Monday, July 3, after what is described as a short illness and recent surgery.
As an architect, Mr. Rosenthal started his career with Marshall Erdman in Madison, Wis., at a time when the idea of designing and building medical office buildings (MOBs) “containing multiple physicians was first conceived,” according to Mark Toothacre, managing partner and CEO of PMB. “Marshall Erdman is ostensibly the creator of our healthcare real estate industry and Bob was there from the very beginning.”
Mr. Toothacre added that “Bob played an enormous role in the lives of all of us who worked with him. Bob’s continuing impact also extends to those at PMB who didn’t have the pleasure of working with him as well as many of our industry partners.”
Mr. Rosenthal moved to San Diego in the late 1960s and started a design business focusing on projects for physicians. In 1971, he founded the West Coast office of American Medical Buildings, the predecessor of PMB.
Mr. Rosenthal was a long-time friend and supporter of HREI. He was one of the first people we interviewed for an article back in 2003, shortly after the publication, then a newsletter, was launched. When we formed our first Editorial Advisory Board in 2006, he was a founding member. And, in 2013, HREI presented him with its first HRE Lifetime Achievement Award.
HREI will publish a more in-depth story on Mr. Rosenthal, which will include insight and comments from his colleagues and industry friends, in next week’s edition.
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