Kevin Gottlieb Obituary

Kevin Charles Gottlieb
On Friday, April 24, 2020, Kevin Charles Gottlieb passed away in the early morning. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1942, he was the son of John Gottlieb and Margaret Kaveney. He attended Needham High School and Springfield College before receiving his Doctorate in Social Science at Syracuse University in 1970.Kevin began his career as a professor at Michigan State University where he received tenure. In 1977, he left full-time academic life to work in the United States Senate. His 14-year-career included serving as chief of staff for Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin and Donald Riegle of Michigan. During this period, Kevin continued teaching as an adjunct professor, primarily at the Maxwell School of Public Administration at Syracuse University. He was also President of Kevin Gottlieb and Associates, a political consultancy.Kevin loved the political process; a highlight of his career was serving as staff director of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs in 1988-90. In the aftermath of the Savings and Loan Crisis, he was part of the team that worked to pass the Financial Institutions Recovery, Reform, and Enforcement Act of 1989. But his first love was teaching, which he continued to do for his entire professional career. He took particular pride in being a faculty member of the Maxwell School.Despite the demands of a busy career, there was no greater priority than his sons. Kevin never missed an athletic event and followed every turn of their educations and careers. To the end, there was nothing he would not do to support them.Kevin is survived by his sons, Brian and wife Eleni and Geoff and wife Vida; grandchildren Alexi, Georgia, Luka and Nikola; sister Jane Gottlieb and brother Kerry Gottlieb; nieces Kimberly, Renee, Anna and nephew Andrew; former spouse and mother of his children Grace Gottlieb; and former spouse Connie Parker. Memorial to be held in Washington, DC at a later date.

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Published by The Washington Post on May 12, 2020.

Memories and Condolences
for Kevin Gottlieb

11 Entries

John Rademacher

December 17, 2023

Dr. Kevin was my most memorable teacher at State. He took us to London in spring '72 and advised me to pursue a career in science education. THAT changed my life forever.

Ron Catallo

August 25, 2023

Kevin Gottlieb taught multiple classes I attended while I was at MSU ('72-'77). He was a very genuine person and always had extra time for me to discuss social and environmental issues of the day. He also wrote a personal reference for me to get into medical school. I've thought of him many times since then and was saddened to just learn of his passing. He was by far my favorite teacher of all time.
My condolences to his family and everyone who had a close relationship with him.

Richard Herold

January 8, 2022

Like others in this string, I was a student of Kevin´s at MSU in the late 1970s. He changed my life. One evening I went to cover a study abroad session for the University Radio station. Owing to a snow storm I was the only attendee and Kevin and I spent a hour together, during which he convinced me to join his program in London with Senator Gaylord Nelson. That was the turning point of my academic and professional career. I became a poli-sci major, Foreign Service Officer and international government relations professional for the rest of my career. Kevin was not an easy person. But he inspired me to make major life decisions and I´m forever grateful.

Bob Evnen

April 10, 2021

Have you scheduled a memorial service? I was a student of Kevin’s at MSU and we kept up from time to time over the years. His influence was pivotal for me. Thanks.

Dan Cohrs

Planted Trees

Mitch Strong

September 11, 2020

I was a student of his at Michigan State University in 1977-1978 and still profit from what he taught me. I will be forever in his debt.

Kathleen Flanagan

August 18, 2020

I am a former student of Kevin Gottlieb. He was a mentor and a friend. My heart goes out to his family for their loss. Please include me in the notice of a future memorial.

Enrique Bustillos

June 27, 2020

Dr. Gottlieb was my social studies teacher for three terms at Michigan State University in 1974. He was the best teacher I had at MSU. On the first day of class he told students if they wanted an 'A' grade they were going to have to work for it as he would be challenging his students in a way hey may not have been before. Some students left. I felt delighted.

Dr Gottlieb used the daily New York Times as our class text. He was concerned about the world, its problems, analysis of solutions and discussion of what it all meant. He was engaging, humorous, highly opinionated and a hell of a lot of fun. I remember him being a handball player, not an easy sport, and he was good at it.

For our blue book exams he would gather all the test booklets, read five of them randomly, get a sense of where the class was, put the five exams back in the pile and grade the whole kit and kaboodle based on that random sampling. He was an original.

I still read the NY Times every day (and did before I took his class) and have thought of Dr Gottlieb often since. I googled him a few years ago and saw he had a terrific career and even saw a C-Span video of him in his Senate staff days. That was a fun stroll down memory lane.

I would love to hear what he would in such a class today...

My deepest sympathy to Dr. Gottlieb's family. His students had him for a short time, but his loved ones had the privilege of his presence for a lifetime. May you all be comforted in the glow of your memories of a great educator for me and, no doubt, a loving and treasured human being for all the rest of you.

Jerry Halvorsen

May 23, 2020

He was a special friend and we had some great times together over more than 40 years.

Peter Kissel

May 16, 2020

So sorry to hear of Kevin's passing. I have fond memories of working with him on Maxwell School initiatives. He even invited me to teach his class once! RIP Kevin.

N. S.

May 12, 2020

My deepest sympathy to the family of Kevin Gottlieb. May you be comforted in knowing that our Heavenly Father cares for you. He will give you strength and courage to cope with your grief.
Psalm 94:17-19

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