PRINCIPLES AND STAFF

In Memoriam
John B. Rosenthal

Founder

John B. Rosenthal, the founder and moral center of the Pennrose family of companies, was the guiding force behind the formation of Innova. John died on September 29, 2008. All of us at Innova deeply mourn his passing.

Innova President Jeffrey Allegretti, John’s longtime friend and business partner, remarked at John’s passing, “His legacy of compassion is his immortal gift to us all. John’s progeny are legion, and his mission and dream will live on in all of us. I will miss him always.”

For more than thirty years, John championed the goal of making a profound impact on the lives of lower income and special needs families. John was widely considered to have set the standards for other affordable housing developers to achieve. His motto, “Buildings are just the beginning” captures the spirit that led to the creation of a multi-faceted organization that continues to provide meaningful supportive services in a quality, secure and affordable living environment.

Recognized for his innovative approach in partnering with community organizations in the development of housing, John also gained an enviable reputation as a pioneer in converting dilapidated historical buildings into successful housing developments. His achievements in rebuilding communities and his sensitive approach to historic building conversions earned him the F. Otto Haas Lifetime Achievement Award from Preservation Pennsylvania, the Commonwealth’s only private, non-profit organization dedicated to the protection of historically and architecturally significant properties. Along with the F. Otto Haas Lifetime Achievement award from Preservation Pennsylvania, John was the recipient of Ernst & Young’s Greater Philadelphia "Entrepreneur of the Year" (2002) award, as well as numerous other awards. John also served as Vice Chairman of the Urban Land Institute, Delaware Valley Chapter, and was an active participant and member of the Urban Land Institute Executive Committee.

A native New Yorker, John was educated at Williams College, where he received his BA degree. He earned his MBA and Juris Doctor degrees from Cornell University.

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