Carlton Edward Spitzer

Columnist, author, playwright, disability advocate and public affairs counselor, Carlton E. Spitzer, died May 4, 2013, at William Hill Manor in Easton. He was 88. His eclectic column, “Keeping Pace” in the Star Democrat and Sunday Star on Maryland’s Eastern Shore ranged from personal profiles to political commentary and often featured persons with disabilities. His plays also featured persons with disabilities and others who overcame adversity. Performances raised funds for non-profit organizations. He established the Hugh Gregory Gallagher Motivational Theatre in 2009. Born February 11, 1925, in Buffalo, NY, third of four sons of Rudolph and Margaret Carney Spitzer, he attended Kenmore public schools and learned to fly at age 16. He served in the army three years during World War II, and later attended the Art Institute of Buffalo and St. Peter’s College, School of Human Relations. He married Joan Patricia Smith of New York City on July 15, 1948, in Buffalo, NY. They have seven children, fourteen grandchildren, and fourteen great-grandchildren. He was director of public relations for the Utica, NY, division of Bendix Aviation in the 1950’s and later opened a public relations firm there. He taught at Utica College of Syracuse University and worked evenings for the Utica Daily Press. He was director of public relations at Wyandotte Chemicals Corporation before moving to Washington, DC, as public affairs counsel and speech writer for Education Commissioner Francis Keppel. In 1965, John W. Gardner, Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, named Spitzer HEW’s Director of Public Information. He placed information specialists in regional offices to make HEW more responsive to citizens’ need across the country during desegregation of schools and hospital, the start up of Medicare and inauguration of the Freedom of Information Act. He was corporate vice president for public affairs at Borden, Inc. in the 1970’s before opening a public affairs counseling firm in Washington, serving business, government, non-profit organizations, White House Conferences and commissions dealing with educational reform and private philanthropy. He helped form the National Minority Supplier Development Council and was a leader in the “corporate social responsibility” movement of the 1970’s. Mr. Spitzer’s 1982 book, “Raising the Bottom Line,” chronicled the rise and fall of industry’s involvement in social issues. He authored two other books, hundreds of magazine and newspaper articles, and more than 700 “Keeping Pace” columns for the Star Democrat. In the 1970’s he spoke on corporate social responsibility in several countries for the United States Information Agency and was guest lecturer at U.S. universities. He lost hearing in his 30’s and wrote an article for the Saturday Evening Post in 1962 about a new surgical procedure that restored it. He was a board member of the Detroit Hearing Center and the former American Hearing Society. In Washington, he was a member of the National Press Club and International Club. His papers are maintained at the Ward M. Canaday Center in the Carlson Library at the University of Toledo. A lifelong pilot, Mr. Spitzer founded Opportunity Skyway at Maryland’s College Park Airport in 1990 to encourage minority and disadvantaged youth to pursue careers in aviation. President Bill Clinton announced his School-To-Work initiative from Opportunity Skyway’s program at Georgetown, DE, on September 3, 1993. Mr. Spitzer was predeceased by his parents and brother, Robert. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Joan Spitzer of Easton, MD; daughters, Kathryn Campbell (Don) of Easton, Nancy Blakeway (Jim) of Healy, AK, Mary Bowen (Jerry) of Hagerstown, MD, Susan Hodge (Wayne) of Camp Spring, MD, Patricia Spitzer (Sam Welsch) of Lincoln, NE, Amy Bivins (Tony) of Kennesaw, GA; son, John Spitzer (Melissa) of Shiremanstown, PA; his grandchildren; great-grandchildren; brothers, Richard Spitzer of S.Yarmouth, MA, Alan Spitzer (Pat) of Raleigh, NC; and numerous nieces and nephews. A private funeral liturgy will be celebrated at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Cordova. A memorial service celebrating his life will be held at the Avalon Theatre in Easton, MD, at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hugh Gregory Gallagher Motivational Theatre Inc., P.O. Box 1048, Easton, MD 21601 or Crossroads Community Inc., P.O. Box 718, Centreville, MD 21617 or Disability Coalition of Talbot County Inc., 100 S. Hanson St., Easton, MD 21601.

Carlton Edward Spitzer

February 11, 1925 - May 4, 2013