Erwin "Tom" Rosenbury

Obituary

Erwin Tompkins “Tom” Rosenbury, 85, of N. Ft. Myers, FL died August 1^st, 2023. Tom was born to Charles Erwin Rosenbury and Frances Mary Tompkins Rosenbury on July 9^th,1938 in Bay City, MI. He grew up with his parents and 1 sister, Laura Rosenbury Wilson (her children are Marcus Lyon (Sherrie), Challis Lyon and H. Wilson) on Rocking Horse Ranch in Bay City, MI.

When he lived on the ranch he enjoyed running in the woods, with his moccasins on,he and his cousin, Dick. Tom swam competitively in high school and loved being in the water the remainder of his life. Only a year out of Bay City Central high school, Tom, won the Bay City Country Club Golf Championship. He was offered the opportunity to go pro but declined to attend Michigan State University, where he got a bachelor’s degree. He worked for Hudson’s Department store in Ohio after graduating college then returned to Bay City in the early 1960’s to join the family furniture business, C.E. Rosenbury & Sons. He married Jessie Disbrow when he was 21. They had 4 children, Erwin Tompkins Rosenbury, Jr., Charles Christopher Rosenbury (Marjory), Jefferson Wesley Rosenbury, and Merry Plocki (Peter). After this marriage ended, he married Vivian Lisk Shudark. He helped to raise her boys Donald Walter Shudark (Michele) and Richard Shudark (deceased). Together they also raised daughter Carolyn Rosenbury Bellor Paiva (Kevin). After Tom retired to FL he was manager of Northern Tool. He won sales awards and enjoyed every job that he ever had.

After 42 years of marriage, Vivian passed. Tom’s good friend of many years, Cecelia Higginbotham, a widow herself, helped him deal with his grief. They grew closer and became life partners, being together over 11 years. After a surfing accident at age 75, Tom was told he would never walk again, but after 3 months in rehab, he walked out with a walker. He worked extremely hard and walked unassisted for years. He bought a recumbent trike and rode 5 miles a day and also rode the Silver Comet Trail, which goes from Georgia to Alabama.He & Ceil would do water aerobics and enjoyed traveling. In his later years, Tom fought cancer. Ceil, being a nurse, took great care of him. They enjoyed living in Six Lakes Country Club where they had many friends. They enjoyed parties, dancing and get-togethers. The last few years Tom lived at Bayside Assisted Living where he was an ambassador in charge of greeting all the new residents and showing them the ropes. He loved this job!

Tom had been a vegan for years and believed he could cure anything with supplements! He loved getting to know people and “interviewed” everyone so he could share their stories.

Tom is survived by his partner Ceil, his children and grandchildren: Christopher Allen (Sarah) Rosenbury, Justin & Allie Plocki. Great Grandchildren: Gabriel & Victoria Rosenbury. Step Grandchildren: Christian Thomas (Courtney Humphries) & James Matthew Bellor (Shabaana), Danielle Shaw, Brittany Shudark, Joseph & Timothy Shudark and their children, David Merritt (Brandy), Jon Davis (Krysten) & Jonathan Paiva. He was close to his nieces and nephew and wanted everyone to know he loved them all VERY much!

Tom loved to tell stories and enjoyed music. He was a very energetic dancer his whole life! He had perfected the Twist! A sensitive man, who listened to Fox news and loved his westerns. He hoped the world would soon get back to the “good ole days”! His favorite charity was St Jude Children’s Research Hospital if anyone would like to make a donation in his name. Plans for a Celebration of Life will be determined at a future date.