James Allan Rothschild
James Allan Rothschild of Southampton died on September 7 at Southampton Hospital, of brain cancer. The former senior vice president for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), he was 49.
A graduate of the University of Rhode Island, he worked in sales and marketing for AT&T before taking a position at Maclean Hunter, a media and entertainment publishing company. From there he went on to the WWE, where he helped to grow the company’s portfolio from $2 million annually to more than $500 million. In addition, he booked Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s first television commercial.
Mr. Rothschild, a native of White Plains, moved to Southampton five years ago, after initially intending only to rent a summer home. According to his wife, Vesna Rothschild, he fell in love with the area and decided never to leave. He left WWE in 2007 to start Revenue Farm, his own media sales company, based in Southampton. He also worked as the chief sales officer for the Chicago-based Take2 Media firm that markets and advertises for the YMCAs of America.
Mr. Rothschild found his real passion after his wife gave him a tribute gift through a Manhattan program called The Smile Train, which corrects cleft palates in children. According to Mrs. Rothschild, he was amazed that a child’s life could be changed so greatly for the small cost of $250. An avid swimmer, he put his talents to use and immediately began soliciting his friends to contribute money based on the number of laps he would swim, and whatever he raised, he matched. His goal was to buy 500 operations. Although he was only able to raise enough for 45 in two years, Mrs. Rothschild plans to organize an annual swim in his honor to complete his goal.
In addition to his wife of eight years, he is survived by two daughters, Sophia and Lola Rothschild; his mother, Gloria Rothschild of White Plains; his father, Robert Rothschild of Roslyn; and two brothers, David Rothschild of New Jersey and Daniel Rothschild of Pennsylvania.
Services, officiated by the Rabbi Leon Morris of Temple Adas Israel, were held on September 12 at the Brockett Funeral Home in Southampton. Interment followed at Southampton Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations to The Smile Train, P.O. Box 96231, Washington, D.C. 20090-6231 would be appreciated by the family.
on Sep 22, 2010