Lawrence Rothwell was a well-known businessman and philanthropist in the Hopewell Valley who contributed to many organizations – from the American Cancer Society to the Hopewell Valley YMCA and the Hopewell Valley Education Foundation.
To honor Rothwell and to acknowledge his death last month at 92 years old, Hopewell Borough Mayor Paul Anzano and the Hopewell Borough Council issued a proclamation in his honor at its meeting earlier this month.
Rothwell, who lived across the Delaware River in Washington’s Crossing, Penn., owned the Pennington Quality Market. The landmark grocery store is located in the shopping center at the corner of Delaware Avenue and Route 31.
Councilman Ryan Kennedy said Rothwell’s death is a “big loss for the community. It is appropriate for us to recognize him.”
“I always appreciated his jokes. We will miss him dearly,” Anzano said.
Rothwell and his family’s business have served the Hopewell Valley since 1981, when he purchased the grocery store. He had been awarded the “Industry Achievement Award” from the New Jersey Food Council, among other honors.
The Hopewell Valley YMCA created the annual “Larry Rothwell Social Responsibility Award,” according to the proclamation. He was also awarded the “Hero” award by the Trenton Rotary Club.
But Rothwell was also known for providing jobs for special needs students at the Pennington Quality Market, said Councilman Chris Fossel. He is a jobs coach for special needs students at Hopewell Central High School.
“He appreciated what they did,” Fossel said. The grocery store provided jobs for the students, who worked as “baggers” at the checkout line or collected shopping carts in the parking lot.
“He was attuned and involved with the students from the high school who were working there,” Fossel said. He added that Rothwell was still very active in the store’s operations, and knew many of the customers by name.
“He was very engaging. When you talked to him, you were the only one there. He was very warm and caring individual. He was a great personal friend to me,” Fossel said.
