PHIL Roth, Mr. Toledo, owner of Roth Furs, celebrated his 90th birthday with family and friends recently.
His wife, Lois Stevens-Roth, host of the celebration, said "I think maybe Phil may be one of a handful of people who have been in business in Toledo for more than 50 years and still working."
Roth has always been a staunch supporter of Toledo and has participated in showing his furs in charity fashion shows.
The invitation read "because old lives matter!" and stated no gifts please, joking "let’s be honest Phil might not live long enough to break them in!”
Instead, the Roths asked those coming to just be present and prove you can still keep up with the old boy.
There were plenty of laughs as those gathered shared memories.
The party was an afternoon soiree on Saturday in the clubhouse at Fallen Timbers Fairways in Waterville, complete with food and beverages and of course birthday cake. Special parting gifts to attendees were bottles of Red Raspberry wine dated with Roth's birthday in 1935.
Among the attendees were family including Benjamin Roth (son), Lois Stevens-Roth (wife), Brian Roth (son), Bill Tollison (nephew), and Barbara Treuhaft (sister) and longtime friend and local basketball legend Dennis Hopson.
Roth Coats & Accessories Furs, Leathers, Cashmeres is a family-owned business that was started in 1920.
Furs, leathers, and cashmeres of all designs are the highlight in the bright orange circular room that was designed by Roth’s mother in the shop located 232 N. Erie St.
Phil Roth started working for his father at the age of five. A world traveler, he attended the University of Southern California. When he was in Colombia, Phil mined emeralds for 5 years. Roth said technical education in addition to college was beneficial. When Phil came back to Toledo, Phil poured himself into the art of making furs, going with his father to New York conventions, where he learned about making button holes for coats in a faster way due to advanced technology. He loves his work and is there every day as he has been for decades. The furrier offers a secure, temperature controlled storage vault to properly control the environment of customers’ coats during Ohio’s warmer months. Call 419-248-3345 for more information.
LEAP (Love Ends All Poverty), SewHope's annual fund-raiser, is Friday at the Premier in South Toledo. Dining stations, a silent auction, and music by Backyard Muriel will all be available. Tickets are $90 each. Go to sewhope.org for more information.
The proceeds from this event are the main source of revenue for the organization which serves people in the Petén region of Guatemala, among the poorest in the world. The independent school is educating 150 students in grades K-5.
Its Cervical Cancer Prevention Program has provided HPV vaccinations and paps to over 6,000 women this year.
They also have Community Development Programs to teaching families to garden and raise chickens, helping women develop projects that allow them to earn an income and teach them to save, as well as providing clean burning stoves, water filters, and nutritious meals to families who live in dire poverty.
All proceeds go directly to support our programs in Guatemala.
SewHope is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization and any donations are fully tax deductible.
For questions contact Cecilia Chaudhary, development director, at cecilia@sewhope.org or 419-297-4864.
THE Tip the Opera Lunch is Friday at 11:30 a.m. at B.J.'s Restaurant and Brew House, 4905 Monroe St. in West Toledo.
Come and have lunch with your friends, then tip the Toledo Opera whatever amount you want.
It's not too late to attend ... RSVP to Diane Rusk at 419-283-0829.
First Published March 13, 2025, 10:30 a.m.
