Edward Kleinbard

Edward Kleinbard passed away on June 28, after a long struggle with cancer. Edward was an extraordinary practitioner and scholar of tax law and fiscal policy. Always witty, pithy and never far separated from a microphone, Edward was regularly quoted on tax and fiscal policy issues in the national press. His passing elicited many moving tributes to his professional life, including in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal, ABA Journal and the Tax Policy Center. Edward also was a devoted father, an avid road bicyclist, a talented amateur photographer who loved nature and the mountains, and a life-long student of medieval art and architecture. He was generous with his time and resources for those willing to engage with his tireless intellect - while typically impatient with disorganization or institutional bureaucracy. A master researcher, Edward had a firm opinion on most subjects and a well-developed plan for most ventures, large and small. A lucky few of us also got to experience his sweet and silly side at unguarded moments (a carefully guarded secret). Prior to entering academia, Edward served in government for several years as Chief of Staff at the Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation and for more than 25 years was in private practice as a partner at Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton in New York. Edward joined the faculty at USC's Gould School of Law in 2009, focusing his work on government tax and spending policy with a progressive bent. He managed shortly before his death to complete a final book - What's Luck Got To Do With It? - to be published in early 2021. Edward's passion for life and work were taken from us too soon. He will be sorely missed by his many friends and his family. Contributions in Edward's honor can be made to EarthJustice ( www.earthjustice.org ) or National Resource Defense Council ( www.nrdc.org/honor ).