LOS ANGELES (December 15, 2025) — The Simon Wiesenthal Center mourns the passing of Martin Rosen, a founding trustee whose life was defined by moral clarity, courage, and an unyielding commitment to the fight against antisemitism.
Marty Rosen played a singular and irreplaceable role in the history of the Simon Wiesenthal Center. As a young American GI during World War II, he participated in the liberation of Nazi concentration camps, witnessing firsthand the depths of human cruelty and the devastating consequences of antisemitism. Those experiences shaped the course of his life and catalyzed his lifelong vow to never forget and to ensure the world would never forget.
That vow became the foundation of his partnership with famed Nazi-hunter Simon Wiesenthal. As Wiesenthal’s personal attorney for more than three decades, Marty was instrumental in transforming memory into action. At a pivotal moment in the late 1970s, when statutes of limitations threatened to close the door on justice, Marty led negotiations with the West German government that resulted in the abolition of those limits, ensuring that Nazi war criminals could be pursued and prosecuted for the rest of their lives. Without his leadership, resolve, and legal acumen, the Simon Wiesenthal Center would not exist as it does today.
Marty's concerns and contributions extended far beyond the Wiesenthal Center. He dedicated his life to the pursuit of justice in service to the Jewish people, the United States, and humanity at large. His work was never driven by vengeance, but by the values of truth, accountability, and a profound belief in the rule of law.
On behalf of the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Board of Trustees, staff and global community, we extend our deepest condolences to Marty Rosen’s family. His legacy lives on in every act of justice pursued, every truth defended, and every generation educated through the work of this Center.
May his memory be a blessing.
Dawn Aaron
Chair, Board of Trustees
Jim Berk
CEO Simon Wiesenthal Center