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University of Kansas

KEVIN GOERING Obituary

Name: Celebration of Life for KEVIN GOERING
Start: 2021-06-03T16:00:00.000Z
End: 2021-06-03T20:00:00.000Z
Location: The Douglaston Club

GOERING--Kevin W., famed first amendment lawyer and Renaissance man, died unexpectedly, yet peacefully, last week at 64. He was a brilliant curmudgeon and a dear friend to many, and he will be sorely missed by the eclectic communities of which he was a part. He is survived by his daughter Camille, a writer and teacher who shares his characteristic exuberance and problematic sense of humor. Born in Neodesha, KS, Kevin attended Kansas University and went on to Cornell Law School. He became a consummate New York lawyer at the firms of Coudert Brothers, Sheppard Mullin, and Norwick Schad & Goering, before settling at Mintz & Gold. He excelled in advising and defending newspapers, magazines, book publishers, authors, and artists. He loved hiking, motorcycling, learning, and his daughter. Above all else, he was a good man and a great father. He battled innumerable challenges and overcame them all with grace. He married and lost the love of his life, Corinne Aubert, and became a single father. He found recovery and passed it on to me. In doing so, he gave me the gift of life a second time. He read the Sunday Times obituaries every week "to see if his was in there yet." He called me often to discuss its hypothetical contents. "Make sure it's funny and original," he told me, "the rest of these are depressing." So here it is Dad; I hope it lives up to expectation. Kevin's mantra was courage. He had plenty of fears, but he believed in facing them head on. He was fiercely honest, comic in the face of tragedy, and found strength in his love for others. Live bravely and authentically. And if you chose not to - "Well, we're all," as he would say, "plant food in the end." Join us in a celebration of Kevin's life, Thursday, June 3rd from 12-4pm at The Douglaston Club, 600 West Drive, Douglaston, NY, 11363. Service starts at 1pm.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by New York Times on May 16, 2021.

Memories and Condolences
for KEVIN GOERING

21 Entries

Richard Wadsworth

May 10, 2025

A good egg Kevin was. We knew each other in the city and I never imagined he could be such a successful lawyer, because he was so down to earth. If he's now able to read this, I wish him well.

Al Dickman

May 10, 2024

Kevin was a decent guy who we remember and miss. He was an early pioneering tech guy who built his Radio Shack computer in the 1980s. He also was a man of principle who did not suffer fools lightly. He kept us all on our toes, which was not an easy feat, as he could be relentless once he got a burr under his saddle But it was Kevin, we enjoyed the experience, and through his detailed direction, learned how to make lemonade out of lemons . Rest In Peace Kevin.

Jack McKeown

April 19, 2023

Dear Camille,

Denise and I only learned of your father's passing last night, two years after the fact. My only excuse is that we were dealing with Denise's near-fatal brain aneurysm and her long and arduous recovery. As a book publisher and later CEO, I worked with Kevin on and off for nearly 30 years. When I started the Perseus Books Group, Kevin was our attorney of record on all first amendment matters. But mostly, was a good friend to both of us. I owned a house in Saugerties not five minutes from your father and mother, and I remember you as a young girl playing in the background. We probably had dinner together a dozen times over the years up there. And I remember the immense sadness of your mom's funeral. Kevin was indeed one the funniest and most generous souls I have had the pleasure to share this mortal passage with. I can hear his voice and laugh so clearly, and the authority of his voice when advising me on legal matters high and low. Ad Astra per Aspera.

Patrick Burke

June 18, 2022

I knew Kevin from a little club that met up at 7am every morning on the UWS. He was a true original and someone I really enjoyed knowing and speaking with. I am very saddened to only now learn of his passing.

God bless you!

Cathy Gaynor

June 15, 2021

You broke the mold and took it with you. Original, honest, exuberant, and unforgettable. Thank you for our wonderful conversations.

Jill Sherwood

June 3, 2021

Thank you to everyone who attended Kevin‘s memorial service and for sharing your memories. I am amazed at the number of lives he touched and I will use his example to strive to be a better friend. Thank you to Kesari Ruza and Peter Guirguis and the Douglaston Club for a wonderful memorial.

Jill Sherwood

June 3, 2021

Jill Sherwood

June 3, 2021

James D. Caven, J. D.

June 2, 2021

Although I am considerably older than Kevin, I grew up across the street from him and his family. His father and older brothers were exceptional Boy Scouts and played an important role in my life. His mother was a wonderful baker who made fresh bakery items every day. It was always a treat to walk into that crowded household to the aroma of fresh baked breads and pastries. He was an exceptional attorney and I am sure he will be sorely missed by all whose lives he touched.

Steve Hanamura

June 2, 2021

Some of my fondest youthful memories are of times spent with you: living in your basement at 126 College Avenue, hitchhiking to Cooperstown to see Willie Mays, visiting NYC with you and Corinne, all the Dead shows, Rocky Horror, hanging with friends, and -oh, yeah- three years of law school at Cornell.

I’m sad that we’ll never have the chance to reminisce together. Rest In Peace, old friend.

Steve Hanamura

Bettina Edelstein & Bill Scott

Planted Trees

Stuart Moskowitz

May 21, 2021

I am very sorry to learn of Kevin's passing. I first met and started working with Kevin in September 1982 when Kevin was hired by Judge Cardamone to replace a law clerk who left the job abruptly after deciding she did not the stresses associated with being a law clerk. Since the work was building up rapidly, we were very glad to get Kevin, a man with both common sense and real world law firm experience.

Kevin and I sometimes disagreed over the legal issues, but we maintained our personal friendship long after we moved on in our careers, and we looked back fondly over the years on the time we spent together clerking.

Kevin had a very sharp mind; he often raced through multiple topics at a frenetic pace -- always passionate over his position on the matters at hand.
Kevin successfully faced many challenges in his life, and he was not afraid of always moving forward to meet those challenges.

I will miss him. He was one of a kind.

Pétigny family

May 19, 2021

Ma chère Camille, la Pétigny family est bouleversée de la mort brutale de ton cher papa. Que de souvenirs remontent à la surface comme sa fameuse choucroute, les balades dans les Castkills, mais aussi parfois ses emportements suivis de mots doux! Nous croyons que ta chère maman va enfin retrouver son Kevin au Ciel et que tous deux veilleront sur toi. Nous pensons et prions pour toi et que tu trouves sur ta route des amis qui sauront te réconforter. Si tu passes par Paris, surtout sonne à notre porte! Nous t'embrassons bien, bien fort. La Pétigny family

Lee Levine

May 18, 2021

Kevin was a good soul. He had a clear sense of right and wrong and went out of his way to help others (me included). I for one owe him a debt of gratitude that I can never repay. May he rest in peace.

Laura Handman

May 18, 2021

Kevin and I were young lawyers together at Coudert Brothers, starting our lifelong journey fighting for the First Amendment. I will miss you comrade.

Gill Phillips

May 18, 2021

I am a UK based media lawyer. I knew Kevin through the MLRC. He was just the right sort of guy to shake up us shrinking violet UK lawyers. Never afraid to voice an opinion. Loyal. Funny. Sometimes embarrassing but always for the right reasons. Resolute. I will miss his acerbic humour and those interventions. I love mankind it's people I can't stand!! ~Charles M. Schulz, "Peanuts," 1959 (Linus).

Charles Glasser

May 18, 2021

Kevin was one of a kind. Generous in spirit and helpful to me when I was still a law student. We formed a friendship in which we would procrastinate from doing "real" work by goofing off in a phone call about once a week for close to 25 years. No subject was off-limits to his humor, and I will miss him a lot. I already do.

Simone Taylor

May 16, 2021

No one can prepare you for a loss; it comes like a swift wind. However, take comfort in knowing God is with you and your family lean on him in your time of need. Please accept my most heartfelt condolences.

Diana & Ron Hughes

May 16, 2021

In loving memory of a wonderful person. We will love you and miss you always.

Lawrence Savell

May 16, 2021

I was so sorry to hear of Kevin‘s passing. I knew him only through bar association committee meetings that we attended together over the years, yet even in that narrow context his brilliant mind, down to earth nature, and boundless wit and humor came across loud and clear. When I first introduced myself to him to my amazement he remembered a law review article I had written decades before and was even able to cite some of the cases that I had mentioned in it. During group discussions of legal developments he displayed near-encyclopedic powers of recall and analysis that blew me away. But most of all on a personal level he was very friendly and open and discussed our common experience in losing a spouse, being a devoted single parent, and moving on with life as one must. He triumphed over adversities and never let challenges change the wonderful and positive person he was. Although the occasions of my interactions with Kevin were narrow and limited I am truly privileged to say he was my friend and I will miss him.

Mickey H. Osterreicher

May 16, 2021

Kevin’s was a life well lived. What better tribute to such a man than a loving remembrance by his daughter. Our lives have been enriched by his intelligence, humor and wit. It was an honor to have been a colleague since the late 90s. May his memory be for a blessing.

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