Jack L. Goldberg

Jack Goldberg (1930-2025)

Jack Goldberg, devoted family man, passed away on October 29, 2025, at the age of 95. Born John Lawrence Goldberg, but always known as "Jack," he is survived by his loving wife of 68 years, Cynthia K. Goldberg, and three sons: Michael (Marilu) of Florence, Italy; Barry (Patty) of Milwaukee; and David (Lisa) in Seattle. He is also survived by five grandchildren: Philip (Julie) of London, UK; Federica (Marco) of Seravezza, Italy, John of Milwaukee, and Jillian and Willa, both in Seattle. And most recently, three beautiful great-grandchildren: August, Bianca, and Delia. Jack’s older brother, Alan, passed away in 2005, and his two daughters, Kristy (Henrik) of Venice, California, and Katie of Colorado Springs, and their children remain close parts of the family.

Jack’s parents, William Victor Goldberg (1898-1978), and Beatrice Mack Goldberg (1898-1989) were both born in Harlem, and lived their entire lives in Manhattan, raising their family on the Upper West Side. His father served in France during WWI, and later was an attorney and active in politics as chair of the NY State chapter of the Americans for Democratic Action. His mother, niece of the esteemed federal judge, Julian W. Mack, was an opera singer in her early years, and then worked for the City of NY in early education. Jack fondly remembered his upbringing in New York, learning to play tennis in Central Park, watching Yankees games in the Bronx, and enjoying the carefree lifestyle of the city in the 1930s and 1940s. He attended the Walden School and Horace Mann Lincoln School, later attending Kenyon College in Ohio where he played on the varsity tennis team. After college, Jack enlisted in the Army where he served during the Korean War as a military police officer, stationed in Hokkaido, Japan. Upon completing his service, he enrolled at Columbia University, where he received an MBA. After graduating, Jack started work with The Segal Company, where he spent his entire career as an employee benefits consultant, working with some of the largest unions in the country, retiring in 1992.

Jack met Cynthia in 1955 in Manhattan. During their early dating, Jack was once very late to pick up Cynthia at her home on the Lower East Side, and called her, explaining that he had to drive his father and Eleanor Roosevelt to a conference and had gotten stuck in traffic. Jack’s tardiness and excuses aside, they married in 1957, living in Queens, NY until 1967, and then in Airmont, NY until 1995. Jack and Cynthia met many dear lifelong friends in the neighborhood and thoroughly enjoyed their trips to Europe and around the U.S. Jack was an avid tennis player throughout his life, and transitioned to golf upon his retirement, enjoying many outings with his beloved brother Alan. He and Cynthia moved back into Manhattan in the mid-90s where he volunteered for many years as a tour guide for international visitors with Big Apple Greeters, sharing with them his hometown city through the eyes of a real New Yorker. He also enjoyed a lifetime of attending ballets and chamber music performances at Lincoln Center, as well as other museums and cultural events around town. Jack and Cynthia moved to Seattle in 2010, spending quality time with their grandchildren and getting to know a beautiful new city.

Jack will always be remembered as a smart, kind, selfless, and highly ethical person, with a clever wit and a gentle soul. He was a great family man, and cherished nothing more than spending time with Cynthia, his children, grandchildren, and extended family and friends. He will be missed, but his legacy will live on though the wonderful memories of all who had the luck to know him.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Big Apple Greeter (www.bigapplegreeter.org) in honor of Jack.

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