Michael Kurtz

1949 - 2022

Dr. Michael J. Kurtz, 73, of Annapolis, Maryland, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, December 17, 2022 from complications associated with congestive heart failure. Michael was born on May 8, 1949 in Fruitland Park, FL, to the late Warren P. and Eleanor Kurtz. Michael was preceded in death by his beloved partner and wife, Cherie Loustaunau, who passed away November 21, 2019. Michael is survived by two siblings Steve Kurtz of Leesburg, FL and Kathleen Sabatino and her husband David of Lakeland, FL, and nephews Andrew, Matthew, Stephen and Thomas. Michael's visits to Florida over the years were a great joy to his family. Also mourning his loss are his three treasured cats, Ramses, Nefertiti, and Cleopatra. Dr. Kurtz was a Visiting Professor at the University of Maryland's College of Information Studies where he directed the archival specialization track in the Master of Library Science program. Previously, he worked for 37 years as a professional archivist, manager, and senior executive at the National Archives and Records Administration, retiring as Assistant Archivist for Records Service. While at NARA, Dr. Kurtz initiated and led several national initiatives that have lasting impact on access and preservation of government records, including the creation of the National Declassification Center; the implementation of the 2002 E-Government Act; the declassification and release of some 8 million pages documenting U.S. government involvement with war criminals (as chair of the Interagency Working Group on Nazi and Imperial Japanese War Crimes); and the creation of the International Research Web Portal relating to Nazi-era looted cultural assets. Michael's academic background centered in history, with a specialty in American Civil War as well as post-Nazi Germany. He received his doctoral degree from Georgetown University in Washington, DC. Michael was a teacher and researcher at heart, co-founing the Advanced Information Collaboratory (2020) where he continued in his retirement to advise and mentor students and colleagues on the future of digital archives and records management. He was completing an upcoming book "The American Archival Experience: From Colonial Times to the 21st Century" at the time of his death. Invested in both the Annapolis and Magothy-Chelsea communities, Michael joined the Magothy-Chelsea Community Lutheran Church in Pasadena (MD) in 1989. In 2008 he was ordained a Lutheran Minister and became associate pastor. Michael served as President of the Lutheran Historical Society of the Mid-Atlantic and authored several biographies including of his pastoral education mentor, Reverend Robert B. Lantz. In Annapolis, Michael was a member the International Club, serving as its President. He was an avid supporter of the arts and served as Trustee and Vice Chair of the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra (ASO) Board of Trustees and President of the Friends of the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra (FASO). Michael's passion for music was evident in his financial leadership and organizational drive behind ASO's international tour to Spain (2021) and his ongoing support for the Annapolis Symphony Academy where youth from diverse backgrounds receive top level music and performance education. Michael was well-loved for his kindness, pervasive good humor and attention to the needs of others. Since the passing of his wife Cherie in 2019, Michael enjoyed a rich community life at Baywoods of Annapolis where he will be missed for his generosity and kindness. Michael's planned giving demonstrates his caring thoughtfulness across a spectrum of needs from music and arts, to wellness programs, to grants that address a wide range of community needs. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Michael's name to the causes he cared about deeply: the Dr. Michael J. Kurtz Foundation Fund at the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County; the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra; Wellness House of Annapolis; and Anne Arundel Women Giving Together. A celebration of Michael's life will be held at a later date at St. Martin's Lutheran Church, Annapolis.