In Tribute: Former Township Supervisor Alan Goldberg dedicated his life to others

A life of service to others came to an end on July 6 with the death of Dr. Alan Goldberg, of Wilmette, after a five-year battle with cancer. He was 76 years old. 

Goldberg was a public servant with New Trier Township for more than 20 years, most recently as supervisor from 2017 until May 2021.

Services in Goldberg’s honor are set for 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 8, at Am Yisreal, 4 Happ Road in Northfield. Attendees must wear face coverings, and a live stream of the service will be available. For more information on the service and Shiva, click here.

Alan Marshall Goldberg was born in Chicago to Sheldon and Harriet Goldberg, who moved to Wilmette when Alan was a child. He played football at and graduated from New Trier High School before attending Columbia University.

Goldberg dedicated much of his adult life to advocating for individuals with disabilities. Goldberg was a longtime board member of UCP Seguin, a nonprofit organization with a mission “to create life without limits for people with disabilities.”

He also served on the Illinois Interagency Council on Early Intervention and as chairman of the Illinois Planning Council on Developmental Disabilities. Goldberg was named a Kennedy Fellow in 2002, when he traveled to Washington, D.C., to advocate for those with disabilities.

Goldberg and his wife, Beth Kling, had two children: Sarah and Mimi. According to Beth, Goldberg was a sports fan who cheered on the Northwestern University football team. Goldberg also shared his love of sports with his daughters, as they followed the Wildcats women’s basketball program.

With the Township, Goldberg first served as a volunteer committee member before being elected as trustee and eventually supervisor. 

He took pride in the community involvement of the Township. During a 2018 speech, he said it was one of the core principles of the township. 

Goldberg often applauded the Township’s ability to effectively serve the community and its residents with a small staff and was at the forefront of the Township’s reading programs, book drives and efforts to serve area youth.

His tenure with the Township ran parallel to that of Stefan Mozer, also of Wilmette, who presented Goldberg with a lifetime achievement award from the Township Board of Directors on May 16.

“He was a soft and gentle soul who impacted so many people through his generosity and kindness,” Mozer told The Record, adding that Goldberg “certainly stepped up for the township. I never heard Alan say ‘No’ when asked to do something.”

The board also voted to rename its boardroom after Goldberg. 

“Alan was always the consummate business professional, thoughtful with criticism, and generous in his praise of quality work,” Supervisor Gail Eisenberg said in a statement from the Township. “We are grateful for the difference Alan Goldberg made in this township, and wish to express our deepest condolences to his wife and daughters.”

Though he was ill much of the past year, Goldberg attended many of the Township’s meetings, including the May event when he passed the gavel to Eisenberg. 

Mozer said that made Goldberg unique.

“He was a wonderful guy — very positive and uplifting. Even when he was sick, he carried on. Not everyone would do that,” Mozer said.

According to his obituary, in addition to his wife and daughters, Alan leaves nieces Wendy Chiswick (Ben) and Dana Goldberg, and grandniece and nephews Maya, Shel and Orin. Alan’s brother Bruce (Fran) predeceased him.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Am Yisrael and UCP Seguin.

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