Jewish citrus grower Al Roth died recently at age 104 and was paid tribute by more than 200 people at his Feb. 17 funeral at Temple Beth El Memorial Gardens in Davie.
“This is the very first time that I see so many people at the funeral of a 104-year-old person,” said Rabbi Bennett Greenspon of Temple Beth Emet of Cooper City, who presided at Roth’s funeral along with Rabbi Pinny Andrusier of Chabad of Southwest Broward.
Although he had many occupations over his life, Roth was best known as the founder of a 10-acre citrus grove, “Roth’s Groves” in Southwest Broward in 1957. Roth was proud of being a farmer until he closed the groves in 1972 to continue his real estate career.
His son Robert operated his own groves company, New River Groves, three miles from the original site.
“Dad was an absolute bull in terms of his strength and energy. At age 46, he was involved in the physical toll of being a farmer, picking oranges himself from the many trees himself, and was active at the same time in a real estate career,” said Robert Roth.
Friends and relatives shared many anecdotes of Al Roth’s extroverted charismatic personality, sharing more laughter than tears to celebrate his life.
“Dad continued to work when he wanted to at Bob’s New River Groves. At age 100, he was always smiling with customers. While they were sipping orange juice, Al would engage them in a long discourse about his life’s accomplishments,” said Al Roth’s son Henry at the funeral.
Born as Abraham Rothenberg on July 7, 1910 in Philadelphia, young Al grew up with financial hardship. According to Rabbi Greenspon, Al’s father abandoned the family and his mother suffered from schizophrenia.
“Abraham changed his name to Al Roth and began a long career as a peddler, doing all he can to support his siblings and his mother. Al was part of the fabric of being an American Jew in the rich history of our country,” said Greenspon at the funeral.
At age 10, Roth lived with his grandparents, working in their grocery store. By his late teens, he worked as a butcher, and later manager at an A&P store in Philadelphia.
Roth married Shirley in 1934 and in 1945, moved to Miami with his wife and two sons.
Before founding Roth’s Groves, he opened in Miami Beach the Roosevelt Hotel and later the Surfside Hotel and managed the Foto-Fair Camera Shop in Surfside.
“He found the love of his life when he opened the groves in 1957. He was very aggressive and put his heart to his work. I was amazed how fast he was, to the point that I could not keep up with him,” said Robert Roth.
In Davie where he resided, Roth was regarded as an icon as Judy Paul, mayor of Davie, proclaimed July 7, 2010 as Al Roth Day in the city of Davie on his 100th birthday.
“Al was one of the pioneers of Davie. I referred to him as our patriarch. He was so charming, delightful and a sweet individual who cared for people. He was a walking history lesson,” said Paul.
He was devoted to his grandchildren as well.
“I saw him five times a week and he was so good with me and my kids,” said granddaughter Lisa Roth, holding back her tears at the funeral.
Roth was a life member of the Jewish Chautauqua Society, an interfaith education program of Reform Judaism and was also devoted to the Shriners fraternal organization.
Roth is survived by two sons, five grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.
