Ethel Rosenberg: Ethel Rosenberg. Ethel Greenglass Rosenberg was born in New York City to Barnet and Tessie Greenglass. The family was very poor and lived in a shabby, unheated tenement. Ethel, the only daughter, attended Hebrew schools and Seward Park High School, graduating at age 15. She became a clerk for a shipping company, but was terminated for organizing a women workers' strike to combat poor working conditions and low salaries. Ethel...