Michael Ashley Rotenberg

Michael Ashley Rotenberg passed away on November 26, 2025, at the age of 92. Michael was born to Ozzie and Pearl Rotenberg in London, England, on July 17 of 1933. He earned his PhD in Mathematical Physics at the University of London in November 1964, studying gravitational and electromagnetic waves in general relativity. Simply stated, he was a very clever thinking man. After graduation, he moved to The Negev Institute for Arid Zone Research, Beersheva, Israel, to pursue a postdoctoral research position. It was in Israel where he met and married Myriam, daughter of Elie and Orovida Sabbah, and welcomed their first child Dorith. In 1968, the trio immigrated to the United States – first Memphis, Tennessee, where their son Eric was born, and then on to their final destination of Racine, WI, where their second daughter Katie was born.

Soon after moving to Racine in 1970, Michael joined the Math Department of the University of Wisconsin – Parkside (Kenosha), teaching and amusing hundreds of students over the course of 30 years until his retirement. Michael brought humor, compassion, and intellectual engagement to his students, and he was well-recognized at Parkside as the Professor who rode his bicycle over miles of road stretching between campus and home every day - neither snow nor freezing rain could stop him - with his book bag strapped to his bike frame. Even after retirement, students would stop him on the street to greet him enthusiastically to tell him how much they enjoyed his math courses, and how much he positively affected their lives.

Aside from riding his bike, he also loved to grow and harvest vegetables in his home garden and in community gardens nearby. He was particularly fond of Star Trek and Dr. Who, and any other science fiction that tested the limits of time and space – much like his academic studies. He also enjoyed computer programming while drinking a nice cup of tea. He was what one might call a “character”, with a dry sense of humor accompanied by his British accent and smiling eyes. He was also a reflective man who sought out quiet time for meditation.

Michael is survived by his wife Myriam, three children Dorith, Eric, and Katie, and two grandchildren, Eli and Gabe. A celebration of Michael’s life will be announced at a later date to be determined.

The family wants to whole-heartedly thank Hospice Alliance staff for their kindness, tenderness, and unwavering care of Michael during his final weeks at Pleasant Point Senior Living.