LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION mourning the death of Victor Gotbaum, American
labor leader, distinguished citizen and devoted member of his community

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
citizens of the State of New York whose lifework and civic endeavor
served to enhance the quality of life in their communities and the great
State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Victor Gotbaum of Manhattan, New York, died on Sunday, April
5, 2015, at the age of 93; and
WHEREAS, Victor Gotbaum was born to Harry Gotbaum and the former
Mollie Bernstein, on September 5, 1921, in Brooklyn, New York; he gradu-
ated from Samuel J. Tilden High School in Brooklyn, and at the young age
of 19, took a job at an uncle's printing shop; and
WHEREAS, In August of 1943, Victor Gotbaum married his first wife
Sarah Cohen; together, they raised four wonderful children; and
WHEREAS, Victor Gotbaum proudly served his country as a member of the
United States Army as a radio operator and machine-gunner, and rose to
the rank of Sergeant; he landed in Normandy two weeks after D-Day and
earned six battle stars as he crossed through France, Luxembourg,
Czechoslovakia and Germany; and
WHEREAS, After being discharged, Victor Gotbaum earned a degree in
political science from Brooklyn College in 1948; two years later, he
obtained a Master's degree in International Affairs from Columbia
University, and was then hired to teach political science at Brooklyn
College; and
WHEREAS, Victor Gotbaum distinguished himself in his profession and by
his sincere dedication and substantial contribution to the welfare of
his community; and
WHEREAS, Victor Gotbaum was then employed as both a Foreign Affairs
Officer in the State Department and a Program Officer at the Labor
Department; in 1954, he taught union leaders in Ankara, Turkey, about
collective bargaining; and
WHEREAS, Victor Gotbaum's commitment to excellence, and his spirit of
humanity, carried over into all fields of enterprise, including charita-
ble and civic endeavors; and
WHEREAS, In 1955, Victor Gotbaum was appointed Assistant Director of
Education for the Amalgamated Meat Cutters in Chicago, Illinois; and
WHEREAS, From 1957-1964, Victor Gotbaum led the Chicago district coun-
cil of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees;
and
WHEREAS, One year later, Victor Gotbaum re-located to New York, where
he was appointed Executive Director of District Council (DC) 37 of the
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees; and
WHEREAS, Under Victor Gotbaum's powerful leadership, DC 37 successful-
ly organized thousands of municipal hospital workers in the 1960s, and
helped create New York City's Office of Collective Bargaining; and
WHEREAS, By 1975, DC 37 had become a powerhouse comprised of 110,000
members, representing New York City's secretaries, zookeepers, social
workers, accountants, sewage treatment workers, computer programmers,
and school lunch aides; and
WHEREAS, Victor Gotbaum married his second wife, the former Betsy
Flower, in 1977; and
WHEREAS, After retiring from District Council 37 in 1986, at the age
of 65, Victor Gotbaum founded the Center for Labor-Management Policy at
the City University of New York; he later held the esteemed position of
Director of the National Center for Collective Bargaining at Baruch
College, in New York City; and

WHEREAS, In 1993, Victor Gotbaum was appointed to the New York City
Board of Education; and
WHEREAS, In addition to his wife, Betsy, Victor Gotbaum is survived by
three sons, Joshua, Irving, and Noah; one daughter, Rachel; one step-
daughter, Katherin; and eight grandchildren, as well as three step-
grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of
compassion, Victor Gotbaum leaves behind a legacy which will long endure
the passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory to all he
served and befriended; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of Victor Gotbaum, American labor leader, distinguished
citizen and devoted member of his community; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the family of Victor Gotbaum.