Remembering a beloved Mass. snow sculptor: A legacy of art and unmatched kindness
Each winter, neighbors in Western Massachusetts waited to see what David Rothstein might create next: a towering moose , a sly fox or an 8-foot tall lantern , sculpted from nothing more than packed snow and patience.
But this winter, his magic won’t be carved into freshly fallen snow. Instead, it will live on in the hearts of those who loved him and marveled at the fleeting beauty he shaped.
Rothstein, 57, a Massachusetts artist whose creations became a cherished seasonal tradition, died suddenly on Nov. 11.
Rothstein, of Florence, was a gentle soul and made friends readily, connecting with people from all walks of life, his obituary read.
“Attentive, empathic, and truly kind, generous with hugs, he made people feel heard, seen and appreciated,” it stated.
His friends from all over have turned to social media to share their stories of the artist, calling him a “light in this chaotic world.”
Soren Mason Temple and Rothstein are both artists but work in very different mediums. In 2016, though, their collaboration earned them international Instagram fame.
The two became friends after attending a World War II trivia night in Northampton. Rothstein became interested in Temple’s multi-media work, which uses paint, drawing, collage, yarn and fabric. He thought a time-lapse would be the perfect way to show off her work.
“In many respects, Soren’s work is the opposite of mine,” Rothstein told MassLive in 2016. “That intrigued me. And I wanted to better understand how such vivid portraits could emerge onto a piece of paper.”
Instagram featured their work as part of its “weekend hashtag project ." The video got millions of views.
They had hoped to work together again this year.
“A thing I admire and love so much about him was that for every one of his projects, he brought other people into them and every time the world was thrilled by something he’d made, he gave all the credit and thanks to the community around him. Community and friends were everything to him,” Temple wrote. “As an introvert who does all my art alone, it meant so much that he included me in his projects.”
But their friendship was much more than art.
Temple wrote on Facebook that Rothstein once helped her when she became sick and couldn’t leave her house for months.
“I love you and I’m so glad you were part of my life,” she wrote.
Almost all of the numerous Facebook posts reflecting on Rothstein mentioned his kindness and creativity, often including stories about how he encouraged other artists to share their wonders with the world.
“... my life — and more importantly how I see my life — is improved because we were friends," Christopher Woodman wrote on Facebook.
Dave Rothstein builds igloo 'speakeasy' in front yard, serves patrons in polar bear costume.
Dave Rothstein builds igloo 'speakeasy' in front yard, serves patrons in polar bear costume.
Dave Rothstein builds igloo 'speakeasy' in front yard, serves patrons in polar bear costume.
Dave Rothstein builds igloo 'speakeasy' in front yard, serves patrons in polar bear costume.
Dave Rothstein builds igloo 'speakeasy' in front yard, serves patrons in polar bear costume.
For many, he was known for his snow sculpting, including the time he served up alcoholic and virgin beverages inside a roomy igloo he built on the front lawn of his Florence Street home in 2015. The so-called speakeasy attracted 60 to 70 people each night over two weekends.
When asked why he opened his igloo to the public, the experienced snow sculptor said simply, “It seemed a shame to let it go to waste, with only me enjoying it.”
The igloo, which had 9-foot high ceilings, had as many as 18 people crammed in it one night. But as word spread, the igloo began to melt.
Still, a decade later, the igloo speakeasy is widely talked about.
Rothstein created a Facebook group about three years ago devoted to snow sculpting so sculptors didn’t have to trade emails at each meet-up to stay in touch. The group has grown to more than 1,100 members from around the world with varying skill levels.
"The Beggar" from Team Mexico at the International Snow Sculpting Championship in Breckenridge in January. Photo courtesy Dave Rothstein
Dave Rothstein (third from left) and his team in front of "The Beggar" at the International Snow Sculpting Championship in Breckenridge in January. Photo courtesy Dave Rothstein
Dave Rothstein (third from left) and his team at the International Snow Sculpting Championship in Breckenridge in January. Photo courtesy Dave Rothstein
Dave Rothstein and his team at the International Snow Sculpting Championship in Breckenridge in January. Photo courtesy Dave Rothstein
"The Beggar" by Team Mexico at the International Snow Sculpting Championship in Breckenridge in January. Photo courtesy Dave Rothstein
"The Beggar" by Team Mexico at the International Snow Sculpting Championship in Breckenridge in January. Photo courtesy Dave Rothstein
"The Beggar" being constructed at the International Snow Sculpting Championship in Breckenridge in January. Photo courtesy Dave Rothstein
"The Beggar" being constructed at the International Snow Sculpting Championship in Breckenridge in January. Photo courtesy Dave Rothstein
He and his team representing Mexico swept all 11 other countries’ teams at Breckenridge’s International Snow Sculpture Championships in Colorado in 2024 to bring home the gold, the second time it’s happened in his career.
Rothstein started snow sculpting more than 25 years ago when he was living in Alaska. He called Breckenridge the “the crown jewel of the snow sculpting world,” as he applied for an invitation every four to five years. His teammates last year were Carlos Miguel Ramirez Pereyra, Israel Magaña Rodriguez and Adam Turner.
Team Mexico’s sculpture, called “The Beggar,” was carved from a 16-foot-tall, 25-ton manmade block of snow. It depicted a gaunt man in a loincloth squatting on a cube, his expressive face and lips pursed in wide-eyed exasperation as he tried to grip a Bitcoin between his legs and more coins toppled below his feet.
The message was centered around the idea that without a rich heart, wealth is a hungry beggar.
“It doesn’t matter how much money you have in the world; if you don’t have a soul and you don’t have friends and you don’t have warmth, you’re incomplete,” Rothstein said.
But his work wasn’t limited to snow sculpting.
Dave Rothstein and his giant pumpkin in the Connecticut River. Photo by Alix Kaplan
Dave Rothstein and his giant pumpkin in the Connecticut River. Photo by Alix Kaplan
Dave Rothstein and his giant pumpkin in the Connecticut River. Photo by Sarah Brittain
Dave Rothstein and his giant pumpkin in the Connecticut River. Photo by Leslie Johnson
Dave Rothstein and his giant pumpkin in the Connecticut River. Photo by Sarah Brittain
Dave Rothstein and his giant pumpkin in the Connecticut River. Photo by Sarah Brittain
Dave Rothstein and his giant pumpkin in the Connecticut River. Photo by Jen Deiringer
Dave Rothstein and his giant pumpkin in the Connecticut River. Photo by Sarah Brittain
Dave Rothstein on the CT River on Saturday, Nov. 4. Photo by Alix Kaplan/Connecticut River Conservancy
Dave Rothstein on the CT River on Saturday, Nov. 4. Photo by Connecticut River Conservancy
In 2024, he attempted to break a world record by riding in a 1,024-pound pumpkin down the Connecticut River . He was also a photographer, printmaker and illustrator.
Sometimes he took his art to fruit and vegetables or used chalk on sidewalks. Other times his art was tiny.
He used hay to create a sculpture that is featured at Park Hill Orchard in Easthampton.
“The mark he has made at Art in the Orchard through his clever and whimsical installations is deep and will last forever. We are honored to have been a part of his wonderful life,” board members of Art in the Orchard wrote on Facebook .
And he became a mint farmer and partnered with local food producers. He also spent years as an attorney after studying law at Northeastern University.
“Throughout his legal career, David devoted himself to environmental protection. He returned to Massachusetts, working for the EPA in Boston and the U.S. Department of Interior’s Fish and Wildlife Service in Hadley,” his obituary read. “His final position as Land Protection Specialist with Mass Audubon utilized all his professional and people skills to secure open space in our state.”
MassLive previously summed up Rothstein best when writing: It would be impossible to encapsulate Rothstein into just one title.
“David did not live long enough, but he lived his life to the fullest, pursued dreams and touched so many people, animals and places that bear his mark,” his obituary read.
Whether it’s a humble snowman or an intricately designed 10-foot sculpture, Rothstein saw possibility in every snowfall — and hoped others would, too. This winter, his vision can live on in your hands.
“Everyone has an inner snow sculptor in them,” he told MassLive in 2021. “You just have to find it.”
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