Arthur Naftalin

Naftalin Arthur Naftalin, 87, Mayor of Minneapolis from 1961 to 1969, passed away May 16, 2005. Preceded in death by parents, Sandel and Tillie; sisters, Phyllis and Jeanette, and brother, Mortimer. Born June 28, 1917, in Fargo, North Dakota, he came to Minneapolis to study at the University of Minnesota where he later held professorships in political science and urban affairs. One of the organizers of the DFL Party, he was Secretary to Mayor Hubert Humphrey and Commissioner of Administration under Governor Orville Freeman. He was active in the 1960s civil-rights movement and was founding president of the Minnesota chapter of Americans for Democratic Action. He began his career as a reporter for the Minneapolis Tribune and later produced and hosted the weekly public-affairs program "Minnesota Issues," which aired on public television for twelve seasons, and a series of videodocumentaries on Minnesota governors. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend. Survived by wife of 63 years, Frances; sons, Mark (Ellen) and David (Elizabeth); daughter, Gail (Jerry); and grandchildren, David, James, Emily, Michaela and Joshua. Celebration of life on Sunday, June 12, 2 p.m., at the Humphrey Institute Atrium, 301 19th Avenue South, Minneapolis 55455. Family requests that gifts in his memory be made to Friends of the Minneapolis Public Library (250 Marquette Avenue, Minneapolis 55401) or to the Arthur Naftalin Public Service Fund (Attn: Development Office, Humphrey Institute, address above).