Brian Rosenwald, a.k.a. Phoebe Snowe, 72, of Chicago’s Rogers Park neighborhood—a co-owner of Taste Food & Wine, a retired vice president at Amtrak and an accomplished collector of wine, china, and books—passed away peacefully at home on Feb. 19.
Born in Evanston and raised in Glencoe, Brian graduated from New Trier High School before studying journalism at Fordham University in the Bronx.
Brian worked as a reservation and customer service agent at Amtrak and rose among the ranks to serve as General Manager of the Santa Fe line. The position took Brian from Washington, D.C. to Boston, Chicago, Detroit and Los Angeles. He then served as general manager of all western-bound trains and was tasked with refining the Coast Starlight Express (which ran from Seattle to Los Angeles). He oversaw the rebuilding of vintage cars and created an exclusive club for sleeper car occupants. Brian scheduled on-board wine tastings and entertainment and gave a controversial and characteristically visionary 100% service guarantee.
It was all a monster hit. Brian was proud to be an excellent boss who believed in his employees. He retired as a vice president at Amtrak in 2013.
Shortly thereafter, Brian moved to the Sherwin on the Lake (a lovely apartment complex in Rogers Park) and was finally able to live openly as Phoebe Snowe, a dynamic and fashionable woman (in honor of a railroad model Brian met). Phoebe found great freedom and acceptance in Rogers Park, where there really is room for everybody.
A longtime wine connoisseur, Phoebe embarked upon a new labor of love, becoming co-owner of Taste Food & Wine on Jarvis, where she conducted richly informative and entertaining tastings; no one who attended came away without greater knowledge of wine, and greater love.
Phoebe is survived by her dear friend and former spouse of 33 years, Susan Hinda Rosenwald (nee Kolson) of Evanston; children Alex (Madeline) Rosenwald of Fairfax, Virginia, and Katie (Ted) Eberspacher of Elmhurst; grandchildren Olivia and Josephine (plus one on the way); and siblings Larry (Cynthia Schwan), Kent (Cecily) and Cynthia Rosenwald. She was preceded in death by her parents Alan Kenneth Rosenwald and Charlotte Heitlinger Rosenwald. She leaves behind many dear friends, including her business partners Sandra Carter and Renee Labrana.
Phoebe has chosen for her body to be directly cremated and wishes for her cremated remains to be scattered near those of her late parents by the maple trees in New Harmony, Indiana.
A celebration of Phoebe and Brian’s life is being planned. Please contact the funeral home for information.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to the GenderCool organization.
Arrangements by Inclusive Funeral Care, 773-370-2959.