ST. LOUIS – Kenneth “Ken” Rosenthal, the founder of Panera Bread, passed away on Friday at the age of 81. Rosenthal passed peacefully at his home surrounded by his family.
Rosenthal was a successful entrepreneur who founded St. Louis Bread Company in 1987, which later became Panera Bread, a well-known chain of bakery-cafes. Despite his business success, he was known for his humility, kindness, and generosity.
Rosenthal was deeply committed to giving back to the community, supporting charities that aligned with his values and leaving a lasting impact on countless lives. His family was his most important contribution, and he is survived by his wife of 55 years, Linda “Laya” Rosenthal, and their four children.
Rosenthal’s funeral service will be held on Feb. 17th at AISH of the Rockies in Colorado’s Greenwood Village, with a livestream being available on Feldman Mortuary’s YouTube channel. Contributions in his memory can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.
All facts from this article were gathered by KTVI journalists. This article was converted into this format with assistance from artificial intelligence. It has been edited and approved by KTVI staff.