Michael Alan Goldberg

Michael Alan Goldberg obituary, Santa Barbara, CA

Michael Alan Goldberg

Michael Goldberg Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers on Jun. 29, 2024.
Michael Alan Goldberg, age 78, of Santa Barbara, CA, passed away on June 22, 2024 after a protracted illness.

Mike was born on April 17, 1946 to Louis and Jean Goldberg in the Bronx, New York. After Michael graduated from Bronx High School of Science in 1962, he went on to study sociology and political science at Columbia College in New York and graduated in 1966.

He continued his education at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois and received a master's degree in sociology in 1970. He then started working in Illinois state government and headed up the Illinois Law Enforcement Commission.

Deciding that state government work was not his true calling, he went back to school to get an MBA from Stanford which he received in 1976 and from there he went to work at McKinsey at their Chicago office where he met his future wife Cheryl.

After a brief stint as Chief Financial Officer at the Pacific Stock Exchange, Mike went to work for Berkshire Hathaway in 1981. He ran the Berkshire Insurance Group until 1993 and then became involved in starting up a real estate lending business among other projects for Berkshire until his retirement in 2012.

Mike always enjoyed martial arts, horseback riding, tennis, and working out at the gym.

He was predeceased by his father, Louis Goldberg, and his mother, Jean Goldberg. He is survived by his brother Richard Goldberg.

Arrangements for the funeral service are pending. The interment will be at Santa Barbara Cemetery.

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

Sign Michael Goldberg's Guest Book

Not sure what to say?

May 3, 2025

Paula Clark posted to the memorial.

July 22, 2024

Joe Casaccio planted trees.

July 18, 2024

Doug Anderson planted trees.

4 Entries

Paula Clark

May 3, 2025

I was honored to be Michael´s travel agent for a period during his time at Berkshire Hathaway. A very particular traveler, he taught me the value of being tenacious when it came to meeting his travel needs. Much admired as a great actuarial mind, I was always enriched by his sense of adventure. My sympathies to his family.

Group of 10 Memorial Trees

Joe Casaccio

Planted Trees

Single Memorial Tree

Doug Anderson

Planted Trees

Doug Anderson

July 18, 2024

I remember Michael was a good cook. A very early memory I have was my family visiting Aunt Cherie and Uncle Mike in Nebraska when I was maybe 6 years old. Mike was working the grill, seemingly in the middle of summer, and was grilling up some marinated chicken and pork. Almost certainly he was grilling up vegetables as well given his fondness for a healthy diet but 6 year old me was probably uninterested in that part of the meal. The food was delicious!

A more recent memory, from my early 20´s, involved my brother Erik and I taking a road trip from Chicago to LA and back. On that trip, Cheryl and Mike were very kind to be our hosts for a few days. While visiting, Michael and I played tennis at a nearby court which helped me relearn some mechanics, particularly with my backhand, which had faded from not playing for a couple of years.

I recall another time on that trip the four of us stopped at a market, possibly a farmer´s market, and brought back some fresh produce. Cheryl and Mike prepared a simple recipe involving cherry tomatoes, basil, and some pasta. Simple here referring to the small number of ingredients, not in the taste which was quite phenomenal. We would talk about his past work and his involvement in interviews before challenging us with the Monty Hall problem.

He loved my Aunt Cherie and he will be missed.

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Sign Michael Goldberg's Guest Book

Not sure what to say?

May 3, 2025

Paula Clark posted to the memorial.

July 22, 2024

Joe Casaccio planted trees.

July 18, 2024

Doug Anderson planted trees.