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Irving Spitzberg Obituary
Irving was born in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1942 to Irving J. Spitzberg, Sr. and Marie S. Spitzberg. He attended Columbia University graduating cum laude, then studied Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Oxford University on a Kellit Fellowship. Later he was awarded a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Yale University's School of Law.
Irving had a wide-ranging career. He was always focused on higher education policy, leadership in all its contexts, and effective philanthropic action. Early in his career he studied international higher education policy as a Fellow of the Institute of Current World Affairs. Subsequently, he was a professor at Brown, the Claremont Colleges, and SUNY/Buffalo, where he served as Dean of the Colleges. Then he moved to the Washington, DC area to lead the American Association of University Professors as General Secretary and later to develop innovative leadership education programming as an executive at the Association of American Colleges.
Irving will always be remembered for his encyclopedic knowledge of pretty much everything, and his love of sharing that knowledge with pretty much everyone. He was, in his essence, an educator. He was also a centrist, a humanitarian who could identify with and show compassion toward everyone.
Irving is survived by his wife, Virginia Thorndike; two sons from his first marriage, Edward Storm Spitzberg and his wife Neesham Spitzberg, of Bethesda, MD and David Adam Spitzberg and his wife Mariana Spitzberg of Olney, MD; his grandchildren, Lulu Spitzberg, Mateo Spitzberg, and Tomas Spitzberg; and his brother, Paul Seeman Spitzberg and his wife Barbara Spitzberg of Tenafly, NJ.
The family requests that memorials be in the form of donations to Casey House (run by Montgomery Hospice, 301-921-4400; montgomeryhospice.org).
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Irving Spitzberg
Sponsored by The Baltimore Sun.
Robert G. Griffin
March 5, 2024
Irving and I were classmates at Pulaski Heights Junior High School and Hall High School. There we had many classes and activities together, including marching bands at both places. During high school, we also did research with Dan Mathews at the University of Arkansas Graduate Institute of Technology. During the year the Little Rock schools were closed, we participated in a book club of sorts (often meeting at Martha Sue Brown´s house which was across the street from Irving´s parents' house) in an attempt to keep our education moving forward. Even though our intellectual interests took different directions in subsequent years, our formative years in Little Rock intersected in many ways , fostering a lasting friendship and appreciation.
Bob Griffin
Bill Bozarth
November 29, 2023
Bill Bozarth
November 29, 2023
Bill Bozarth
November 29, 2023
I have known Irving since we were in elementary school together in Little Rock. We shared a lot of experiences in Junior High and High School. We even overlapped one year at Columbia. My fondest memories of him, however, are the times we connected later in adulthood.
I think that's because he was years ahead of most of us in knowing who he was, and what his mission in life was. It took me a long time to catch up with him. I don't think I ever really did.
Irving Spitzberg, Jr. was special. He understood so many things from an early age when most of his peers were pretty clueless. Irving was able to teach and converse on so many subjects, and his light shone bright in many circles throughout his long life, right up to the end. His loved ones will miss him and the world will miss him. Farewell, my friend.
I was able to dig out a couple of pictures from my archives that I wanted to share with the people who knew him. The four young hotshots were in a carpool going to Junior Cotillion in the 8th grade or so. Irving is on the left (obviously) then Jim Pat Gunn, Johnny Roberts and me. The head shot was around the same time. We all got sheets of these mini- pictures and exchanged them. He signed the back of his.
John M. Carland
October 28, 2023
Irving and I entered Pulaski Heights Junior High School in Little Rock shortly after Labor Day, September 1954. We met either that year or the next.
Since so many here have known and written about Irving in his post-Little Rock years, I thought I would make a few comments about Irving in Little Rock before Columbia, Oxford, and Yale whisked him away.
I might note here that early on-that is in junior high--I learned that Irving had focus and purpose to spare and, furthermore, when he brought them to bear to achieve goals, goals tended to be achieved.
To get a sense of his activities in Little Rock at the time take a look at the two photographs I´ve scanned from our junior high newspaper, the Tip Top Times, the first from May 1956, the second from January 1957. In the first Irving is one of a small group of student band leaders. Note the smile and the saxophone (he may have played it before Bill Clinton did). The second shows Irving as editor of the Tip Top Times. I believe in those days, in that position and in others, Irving developed one of his operational methods-not the only one, but one of the most effective: stay behind the scenes and develop the organizational structure necessary to arrive at desired ends.
Irving´s obituary tells about his impressive work organizing the Junior STOP organization during the Little Rock Integration Crisis. However, another facet from that difficult time could be mentioned. When the Little Rock schools closed rather than integrate, students in the system-white and black-had to scramble for an education. Many, including Irving, ended up at one of the county schools outside Little Rock. This prompted him to organize a play reading group which brought together a small group of teenagers intent on getting a fix on the larger world through reading and discussing important plays. We may have been a tiny bit precious but it was a good experience for all of us. Indeed, it generated some much needed light for all in the group in a dark time.
In one of our email exchanges years ago, Irving mentioned that once he headed for Columbia, he lost connection with Little Rock and never regained it. Yet, Little Rock had a hand in forming him, in making him the person he was, the one who contributed so much to the cause of education and community, and who was always a helpful friend.
John Carland
Arlington, Virginia
John M. Carland
October 28, 2023
Tito Anders
October 23, 2023
It was always a treat, when the family convened during holidays, to be astounded by whatever fangled tie, suspenders, or whacky t-shirt Irving would be sporting that season. His humor was forever present, and situationally undaunted. Excellent at questions, and thorough with his answers, I was always fascinated by the depth & breadth of his knowledge. His deep honor and pride in his roots and family made him an uncle to look up to. Thank you for gracing my World Irving, your humor and great attentiveness to all around you have made me a better, more caring man.
Michele Penberthy
October 23, 2023
I met Irving when he and Ginny were here in Lacey WA visiting Ginny's mother, Dorothy. I was overseeing her care, managing her bookkeeping and being her friend. Irving was very interested in the business I had created in 1984 which included overseeing the care and living of Seniors in their own homes. Ginny and I became good friends and I have enjoyed visiting them in their home after Dorothy had passed away. They were a wonderful couple and I admired and have appreciated their eagerness to remain friends. RIP
Savitri Gauthier
October 20, 2023
I met Irving after befriending Ginny, and I had the great pleasure of visiting them many times in their delightful Monkton home as part of a small singing ensemble they just loved to feed and hear laughing and singing in their living room. He was the only Jewish Santa I've ever known, and his flair for dressing the part prompted my husband to dub him "the jolly elf." He was, indeed, that and ever so much more ... RIP you marvelous man.
Barbara Paper
October 20, 2023
From the time I first met my cousin, Irving, I realized he was an intelligent and serious child. Many summers my mother and I would visit Little Rock, AR, where the Spitzberg family lived. I recall one July 4th when cousins, Paul, Jean, Hazel and I paraded his neighborhood waving American flags with Irving, Jr. leading the way. Irving never stopped leading the way.
Barbara Paper
Ken Higgins
October 18, 2023
I am so sorry to hear this news. Irving and I were both Rotarians. He always made me feel important and far smarter than I ever was. I respected his opinion and at key moments during my life he offered me advice I found helpful. Very glad he was part of my journey. Rest in peace.
Dr. Sheila F. Waters
October 18, 2023
I´ve gotten so much from being a FB friend of this lovely man. I will miss our (sometimes challenging) discussions.
MOHAMED Ahmed Subhy Mansour
October 18, 2023
I have known Irving for 18 years; he was a loving husband, a wonderful dad, a successful lawyer, and a man of principles who stood for what he believed in. he was all of that. Still, his superpower was kindness and his unique ability to make everyone around him feel happy and peaceful; I'm so grateful to have known you, my great friend.
Rest in peace
W. J. "Jerry" Dean
October 18, 2023
Always found it a joy and a privilege, as a Hillcrest teenager, to visit within the Spitzberg's cozy home on North Cedar Street. Paul was my excellent band-buddy, baseball teammate and tennis partner; but we also shared with friends lively card games, too! Paul's elder brother Irving and their parents were amazingly tolerant of our ruckus! I quietly envied the close relationship of Spitzberg family members and much respected their tradition of a weekly evening dining-out. Always admired both brothers' academic brilliance and enviable sense of humor. My thoughts now rest with my long-time friend, Paul, and his fine family whose members I wish comfort at this most difficult time. I know how deeply Irving's wisdom and joy in living will be missed.
Andrew Lyons
October 17, 2023
I got to know Irving in 1964 shortly after he arrived in Oxford. I was a third year undergraduate at our college (St. Catherine´s) at the time. Harriet Lyons (my wife) and I visited him in Baltimore shortly after our wedding late in 1967,
and strangely enough we never saw him again. We were briefly in contact by telephone when he was working for AAUP. During the last five years we were in constant contact with him (and indirectly with Virginia) through Facebook. Irving was a gentle scholar and a lawyer with a strong sense of social justice. I know that he faced a long illness with considerable courage.
Candy and Dennis Warner
October 17, 2023
The Pink Sorrell in the photo was given to us by Irving some time ago with the statement that it came from his mother's plant in Arkansas. A generous man, a wonderful neighbor, a fascinating man of ideas, and loving. We will miss him. But we will continue his memory with renewal of the plant each year. Thank you Irving.
Pam Parmer & Ron Stevenson
October 17, 2023
We will miss Irving´s warmth and enthusiasm and his kind and happy presence at the Villas. With love and sympathy, Pam and Ron
Cathy Karas
October 17, 2023
Irving was a great boss and a wonderful person. I worked for him and Virginia back in The Knowledge Company days, and I still tell stories about him! Thoughtful, funny and wonderfully generous. I feel sad, knowing he is no longer with us, but fortunate to have known him.
Martha Saxenmeyer
October 17, 2023
I remember visiting Little Rock
. my mother visited to see your Grandmother who was her Great aunt.
Martie Lazarus Saxenmeyer
David Green
October 17, 2023
Irving hired me as editor of Academe when he was the Secretary-General at the American Association of University Professors back in the early 1980s. I truly enjoyed serving on his staff and the unflagging support and gracious leadership he provided during a time of transition at the AAUP. Our regaining contact through social media in recent years was most enjoyable. I'm glad I had the opportunity to share space and time with Irving.
Hossam Mansour
October 16, 2023
Irving was cheerful, knowledgeable, helpful, and enormously kind. I was lucky enough to have my first Thanksgiving at his (and Virginia 's) home back in 2004, many other fun and happy events and memories
As beneficiaries of Irving's legal services and mentorship, my large family and I
would not be anywhere close to where we are at today in life-whether it was our Immigration or career journies.
We are extremely privileged and humbled be a part of Irving and Virginia's family.
Love,
Hossam Mansour
Joy Charles
October 16, 2023
Meeting Mr. Spitzberg at our IOSC meetings and functions. We always talked about pictures that I took at our functions and keeping in touch with him on FB. May he Rest In Peace
Benjamin Liebersohn
October 16, 2023
Irving was always there for my grandma Esther, and I will always be grateful that he and Virginia helped make it possible for her to comfortably retire and eventually afford assisted living care. Additionally, Irving fostered a love of art and photography which shaped me and others. I will miss you!!
Baer Ackerman
October 16, 2023
Kindness, kindness, kindness.
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