Phyllis Rosenthal Nachshin (née Katz) of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and recently Boca Raton, Florida, passed away on June 18, 2026 in her home at the age of 97.

Phyllis was born in 1928 in Brooklyn, New York where she grew up near the boardwalk in Brighton Beach and graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School. She fell in love with Eddie Rosenthal and they married in 1950. They raised two sons, Arnie and Kenny, in Valley Stream, New York. In her long life, Phyllis had two 31-year marriages, and after Eddie Rosenthal’s death in 1981, Phyllis married Eddie Nachshin in 1984. The couple made their home, first, in North Hills, New York, and then in Boca Raton, Florida. In her later years, Phyllis moved to Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where her son, Arnie, and daughter-in-law, Carrie, live.

Phyllis was often said to be the most beautiful woman in every room she walked into, easily mistaken for an actress from the Golden Age of Hollywood. Always dressed impeccably, Phyllis was passionate about fashion, approaching her attire with a keen eye and creativity. Even into her nineties, she continued to expand her wardrobe and develop new looks. She was especially known for her hats, and always had the perfect one for each occasion.

Phyllis was an avid reader with a sharp mind and a constant rotation of library books. She was an excellent writer who often penned poems to read aloud for special birthdays or anniversaries of loved ones. Phyllis also enjoyed playing Words with Friends (online Scrabble), often having multiple ongoing games with people who had no idea she was in her nineties!

Phyllis was at the center of the social life at the Tam O’Shanter and Boca Woods Clubs and developed friendships one would think had been lifelong. She had a quick wit, and was always up for a good-spirited debate. In her later years, she also became a zealous Yankees fan, watching every game and discussing the details of them with her son, who often joined her. Her family will also remember the meals she cooked, often bringing everyone together: chicken cutlets, enormous plates of pasta, roasted peppers, and delicious salads, to name a few.

Phyllis was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, who treasured her time with her family. She was preceded in death by her parents, Jacob and Lucille Katz; her son, Kenneth Rosenthal; her first husband, Edward Rosenthal; her second husband, Edward Nachshin; and her sister-in-law, Connie Lee Gural. She is survived by her sister, Anne (Gil) Sash; her son, Arnie Rosenthal (Carrie Klein); her nephew, Alan (Sharon) Sash; her niece, Terri Sash; her grandchildren, Chelsea Rosenthal, Zoe (Adam) Phillips, Elana Nachshin (Lucy Turner), and Remington Nachshin (Kate Frankel); and her great-grandchildren, Archer and Willa Phillips.

A graveside memorial will be held at Mount Ararat Cemetery in Lindenhurst, New York on October 2, 2026. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to amfAR at www.amfar.org or below.