Former Lieutenant Governor of Maryland Melvin A. “Mickey” Steinberg passed away on Tuesday, March 10. The Baltimore native and Edenwald Senior Living resident was 92.
Steinberg attended both college and law school at the University of Baltimore and received his juris doctorate at 21. He then enlisted in the United States Navy, where he served for two years before beginning his Baltimore-based law practice.
In 1967, Steinberg entered local politics when he was elected to serve as state senator for District 11in Baltimore County. He remained in the State Senate for 29 years and served as senate president from 1983-1987.
In 1987, Steinberg became Maryland’s lieutenant governor under Governor William Donald Schaeffer. He served from 1987-1995.
After Steinberg’s death was announced, tributes from colleagues, community leaders and politicians rolled in. On Facebook, Md. Gov. Wes Moore wrote: “Dawn and I are heartbroken by former Lt. Governor Mickey Steinberg’s passing this morning. From his service in the Navy to his tenure as Lt. Governor and beyond, he led a life of public service and deep love for Maryland. His leadership, including during the savings and loan crisis, and his work as Senate President made our state a better place to live and work. Our prayers are with family and friends.”
Former Gov. Larry Hogan wrote “Maryland has lost a true public servant” and noted that Steinberg dedicated “nearly three decades to serving our state.”
Attorney Alan Rifkin, who was chief counsel to Steinberg when he served as senate president and during the Shaeffer/Steinberg administration, told Jmore that Steinberg was an “extraordinary” individual and public servant. “He had a unique ability to reach consensus when it looked like there was none. He used his brilliance and humor to cut across party lines. Mickey was able to work hand in hand with Republican Sen. Frank Kelly and others to establish dedicated Medivac helicopters for the Maryland Shock Trauma system, saving thousands of lives. He was instrumental in reforming Maryland’s public and higher education systems; He forged statewide consensus establishing the Maryland Stadium Authority, which ultimately paved the way for Oriole Park at Camden Yards and M&T Bank Stadium. Aside from his enormous contribution to the lives of Marylanders in ways large and small, Mickey never forgot what really mattered — his family and his Jewish heritage.”
On LinkedIn, Maryland Lt. Governor Aruna Miller wrote she “mourns the loss of former Lt. Governor Melvin “Mickey” Steinberg, a dedicated public servant…The office of Lt. Governor is a small fraternity, and it is an honor to follow in the tradition of leaders like Mickey Steinberg.”
Steinberg was a member of Beth El Congregation in Pikesville. In addition to that congregation’s condolences, other members of Baltimore’s clergy also mourned Steinberg’s loss. In the Sol Levinson & Bros. memorial book, Rabbi Gustav Buchdahl noted that Steinberg was a “thoughtful and pleasant person,” while Rabbi David Herman wrote that “Lt. Gov. Steinberg was the true definition of the Yiddish term ‘mensch.’ He was a decent human being who always went out of his way to help others. A proud Jew who davened daily he practiced the ‘Golden rule’ Love your neighbor, Leviticus 19 verse 18.”
A memorial post by his family on the website of Sol Levinson & Bros noted that in addition to his political career and law practice, “Mickey enjoyed traveling and reading, but most of all he loved his family — his beloved wife of 67 years, his devoted children, his precious grandchildren and his adored great-grandchildren.”
Steinberg is survived by his wife Anita (nee Akman); children, Edward (Halaine) Steinberg, Susan Steinberg, Barbara Steinberg; grandchildren, Jason (Kristina) Steinberg, Mitchell Steinberg (Stephanie Vargas), Julie (Sean) Erb; great-grandchildren, Hudson Erb, Chase Erb, Shay Erb; sisters-in-law, Natalie Gorelick, Marion Akman; friend Mary Grodnitzky. He was predeceased by his brother Norman (Bettye) Steinberg, brothers-in-law, Jerry (Shirley) Akman, Alvin Akman, Mike Gorelick; parents, Julia and Irvin Steinberg.
Services were held on Thur. March 12 at 10:30 a.m. at Sol Levinson’s Chapel, 8900 Reisterstown Road in Pikesville. Internment was at Beth El Memorial Park, 9800 Liberty Road,
Randallstown. Contributions in his memory may be sent to Beth El Congregation, STXBP1 Foundation, or the charity of your choice. The family will be in mourning at Edenwald Senior Living, 800 Southerly Ave., Towson, after interment until 8 p.m. with a service at 7 p.m. and Friday, from 1p.m.-4 p.m.
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