Max Gruenberg

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Max Gruenberg
Member of the Alaska House of Representatives
from the 14th district
In office
January 20, 2003 – February 14, 2016
Preceded by
Succeeded byIvy Spohnholz
Member of the Alaska House of Representatives
from the 11th-B district
In office
1985 – January 18, 1993
Serving with
Dave Donley (1986–1990)
(1984–1986)
Preceded byMae Tischer
Succeeded byDistrict Abolished
Personal details
Born
Max Foorman Gruenberg, Jr.

(1943-09-25)September 25, 1943
San Francisco, California, U.S.
DiedFebruary 14, 2016(2016-02-14) (aged 72)
Juneau, Alaska, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Kayla Epstein
ResidenceAnchorage, Alaska, U.S.
Alma materStanford University, University of California
ProfessionAttorney

Max Foorman Gruenberg, Jr. (September 25, 1943 – February 14, 2016) was an American politician, a Democratic member of the Alaska House of Representatives, representing the 14th District since 2003. He previously served from 1985 through 1993. On October 13, 2009, he became the senior member of the House following the death of Richard Foster of Nome.

Gruenberg served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War. He died on February 14, 2016 at his home in Juneau after spending an evening with his wife and friends. He was 72 years old.[1]

Life and education[]

Max F. Gruenberg Jr. was born in San Francisco, California to Dorothy Lilienthal Gruenberg and Max Gruenberg, Sr. in 1943 as their only son. Growing up, Gruenberg participated in Boy Scouts and achieved Eagle Scout level.[2] He graduated from Acalanes High School, located in Lafayette, California in 1961 and continued onto Stanford University from 1961-1965, where he earned his B.A. in Political Science. After Gruenberg graduated from Stanford University, he spent three more years, from 1967-1970, at UCLA Law School.[3] On June 5, 1994, Gruenberg married his third wife, Kayla Epstein. Gruenberg had two sons named Bruce and Daniel.[4] Outside of politics, Gruenberg participated in and was a member of the Fairview Lions Club from 1978 to 2016, Alaska Common Ground from 2001 to 2016, a board member in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers from 1981 to 2016, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars from 1993 to 2016. He was also a Family Lawyer from 1974 to 2005,[5] participating in court cases such as Flores v. Flores in 1979[6] and Hilliker v. Hilliker in 1988, appearing before the Supreme Court of Alaska.[7]

Military career[]

Both Gruenberg and his father served in different branches within the United States military. While Gruenberg served in the Navy during the Vietnam War, his father served in the Army during World War II. Gruenberg's mother got remarried to Jacque Schnier, an artist who also served in World War II. After graduating from Stanford University, Gruenberg joined the Navy from 1966-1967 as a lieutenant[8] on a transport ship called the U.S.S. Whitfield, where he was awarded a 3 battle stars Vietnam Service Medal.[9]

Political career[]

In 1970, Gruenberg moved to Alaska and began his political life as an Alaskan politician. In 1985, Gruenberg served in the House of Representative, representing East Anchorage House District 16. He remained in office until 1993, when he took a 10 year break from politics. He returned to politics in 2002 and in 2003, where he served as House of Representative until his death in 2016.[10] During Gruenberg's early years in politics, he helped create the Alaska Law Review and worked alongside Republican Senator Ted Stevens as Steven's top legislative aide in Washington D.C.[11] In 1970-1971, Gruenberg was also a Law Clerk for Justice Roger Connor in the Alaska Supreme Court.[12]

Elections for Alaska House of Representatives[]

District 16 election in 2014[13]
Party Candidate Vote Count
Democratic Max F. Gruenberg, Jr. 3,253
Republican Don Hadley 2,745
District 14 election in 2012[14]
Party Candidate Vote Count
Democratic Max F. Gruenberg, Jr. 3,391
Republican Don Hadley 2,883
District 20 election in 2010[15]
Party Candidate Vote Count
Democratic Max F. Gruenberg, Jr. 2,065
Liberal Scott A. Kohlhaas 918
District 20 election in 2008[16]
Party Candidate Vote Count
Democratic Max F. Gruenberg, Jr. 3,361
Liberal Scott Kohlhaus 812

Alaska committees[]

Alaska Committees Assignment Rep. Gruenberg Jr. Held[17]
2015 2013-2014 2011-2012 2009-2010
Judiciary Judiciary Judiciary Judiciary
State Affairs Legislative Council State Affairs State Affairs
Military & Veterans' Affairs Military & Veterans' Affairs Transportation Transportation
Rules Rules

Legislative bills[]

Bills Sponsored by Rep. Gruenberg Jr.[18]
Bill Number Name of Bill
AK HB6 Priv Employer Voluntary Vet Prefernce
AK HB8 Powers of Attorney
AK HB18 Expand Medicaid Coverage
AK SB23 Opioid Old Drugs: Dispensing; Immunity
AK HB27 Dhss Duties; cina; Foster Care; Adoption
AK HB35 March 27: Great Alaska Earthquake Day
AK HB44 Sex Abuse/ assault/ dating Viol Prev. Progs
AK HB60 Military: Sexual Assault
AK HB61 Military Meritorious Award License Plates
AK HB117 Sexual Assault Examination Kits
AK HB 130 Naming State Library & Museum
AK HB142 Establish Elders' Day
AK HB147 Animals: Protection/release/custody
AK HB154 Civil Legal Services Fun
AK HB175 Establish Military Family Day
AK HB207 Antitrust Actions & Penalties
AK HB215 New Drugs For The Terminally Ill
AK HB223 Session Limit
AK HB226 Extended Alaska Commission on Aging
AK HB 255 Reading or Typing Messages While Driving[19]
Ak HCR16 Ways And Means: Uniform Rules
AK HJR6 Federal Contamination of Ancsa Lands
AK HJR22 Stewart-hyder Border Hours

References[]

  1. ^ Herz, Nathaniel. "Longtime Alaska lawmaker Max Gruenberg passes away". Alaska Dispatch News. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  2. ^ "Max Foorman Gruenberg Jr., Esq., Presented with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award by Marquis Who's Who". 24-7 Press Release Newswire. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  3. ^ "Alaska State Legislature". www.akleg.gov. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  4. ^ "Max Gruenberg Obituary (1943 - 2016) - Juneau, AK - Juneau Empire". www.legacy.com. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  5. ^ "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  6. ^ "Flores v. Flores". Justia Law. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  7. ^ "Hilliker v. Hilliker". Justia Law. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  8. ^ "Max Foorman Gruenberg Jr., Esq., Presented with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award by Marquis Who's Who". 24-7 Press Release Newswire. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  9. ^ "Max Gruenberg: Longtime Jewish Lawmaker of Alaska – JMAW – Jewish Museum of the American West". www.jmaw.org. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  10. ^ "Max Gruenberg papers". Archives and Special Collections. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  11. ^ "Max Foorman Gruenberg Jr., Esq., Presented with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award by Marquis Who's Who". 24-7 Press Release Newswire. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  12. ^ "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  13. ^ "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  14. ^ "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  15. ^ "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  16. ^ "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  17. ^ "Max Gruenberg". Ballotpedia. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  18. ^ "Max Gruenberg". Ballotpedia. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  19. ^ "Alaska State Legislature". www.akleg.gov. Retrieved April 16, 2021.

External links[]

Honorary titles
Preceded by Senior member of the Alaska House of Representatives
2009–2016
Succeeded by
Retrieved from ""