Roslyn Steinbach Tate, 79, of Lafayette Hill, formerly of Mt. Airy and Chestnut Hill, a retired Chamber of Commerce executive, died July 10 of an infection at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
Mrs. Tate, who retired as vice president of events for the chamber in 2008, had held a variety of positions at the organization. She was recruited by the chamber in 1976 to run its relocation center that provided information to corporate families moving into the area. Her responsibilities expanded to include event planning, the creation of a forum for small businesses, luncheons with the mayor of Philadelphia and seminars on topics of interest to business executives and entrepreneurs.
Born at Fort Benning, Ga., the daughter of an Army major, she moved 30 times in 23 years as her father was posted to different bases. She graduated from high school while her family was stationed at Fort Monroe in Hampton, Va. She later attended the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Wash.
After spending a year in Germany and studying for six months at the University of Madrid, she returned to the United States, where she became a marketing and executive assistant to the chief executive of what was then Fieldcrest, Inc., a manufacturer of linens and other home products.
In 1963 she married Mercer D. Tate, a Philadelphia lawyer who was active in politics, and moved to Philadelphia, where the couple raised two sons and a daughter in West Mt. Airy. They moved to Chestnut Hill in 1989. Mr. Tate died in 1991, and Mrs. Tate moved to Lafayette Hill in 2011.
Mrs. Tate served on the board of directors of West Mt. Airy Neighbors and the Marriage Council of the University of Pennsylvania. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill and the Philadelphia Cricket Club.
She enjoyed volunteer work, gardening, tennis, cooking, knitting and travel.
Mrs. Tate is survived by sons, Richard S. and Christian M.; a daughter, Rebecca T. Miller; a sister; and seven grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16, at the Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill, 8855 Germantown Ave. Burial will be private.
Memorial donations may be made to the Matt Miller Garden Fund, William Penn Charter School, 3000 School House Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19144. – W.F.
