Former Maryland Lt. Gov. Melvin ‘Mickey’ Steinberg dies at 92

Former Lt. Gov. Melvin “Mickey” Steinberg, who served in state government for nearly three decades and later worked as a lobbyist, died Tuesday after a short stay in hospice. He was 92.

Steinberg, a Democrat, was elected to represent Northwest Baltimore and parts of the county in the state Senate in 1966. In 1983, he became Senate president, a position he held until he ascended to lieutenant governor four years later.

He served in that post until 1995 under former Gov. William Donald Schaefer.

“I think he was one of the most impactful governmental leaders that this state has ever seen, and did so with a quiet elegance, an extraordinary level of compassion and wisdom, and a sense of humor,” said Alan Rifkin, a Baltimore lawyer and former colleague.

Steinberg helped the state navigate the savings and loans crisis of the 1980s, secure funding for Oriole Park at Camden Yards, change medical malpractice laws and reform Maryland’s university and collegiate system, said Rifkin, who served as chief legislative officer and counsel to the Senate president.

Steinberg’s compassion and deep understanding of the legislative process made him an effective leader, Rifkin said. He was voted chairman of the Baltimore County delegation during his first year in the Senate.

He took on additional leadership roles throughout his time in the upper chamber, including chairing the Finance and Ethics committees and co-chairing the Legislative Policy Committee.

“He could take the most tense, difficult political debate, recognize that there were emotions and convictions on both sides of the argument, and find a way through humor to ease the tension and bring people together,” Rifkin said.

The two met when Rifkin was a college intern at the Capitol in Annapolis and Steinberg was the vice chair of the Judicial Proceedings Committee. Rifkin didn’t have a car, so Steinberg picked him up every morning and dropped him off on his way home.

“You could not have had a better education than being in Mickey Steinberg’s car talking to him and learning from him,” Rifkin said.

He extended the same mentorship to legislative colleagues, including former state Sen. Frank Kelly, a Republican who represented Northern Baltimore County. During Kelly’s first year in the Senate, the two rented a house together in Annapolis, and “he kind of took me under his wing.”

“Mickey was an exceptionally good conciliatory negotiator, getting everybody to define the problem and listen to all sides and then come up with a solution,” Kelly said.

Sometimes, Steinberg’s willingness to work across the aisle frustrated fellow Democrats — including when he endorsed Republican gubernatorial candidates in 1998 and 2018.

Still, he maintained good relationships with his political rivals.

Steinberg made an unsuccessful run for governor in 1994, hinging his campaign on a war against crime. He lost the Democratic primary to Parris Glendening, who went on to become governor.

“He could be a forceful person in the Senate, but at the same time, somewhat humorous,” Glendening said. “I go back to the times with him and others with a sense of appreciation for the fact that we could differ on policies and still not only be civil but respect one another.”

And he gave Steinberg props for winning in Baltimore County so many times. “It was a reflection that you were well connected with the community.”

Pat Roddy, a former aide, said Steinberg’s people skills can best be summed up by everyone calling him “Mickey.”

“That he could be addressed that way by the person serving him lunch all the way to the governor of the state of Maryland and beyond is a testament to his personality and how engaging and open he was with everyone,” Roddy said.

Steinberg’s public service was remembered Wednesday in Annapolis, where state senators adjourned their daily session in his memory. After leaving office, Steinberg remained active in politics through legal work and lobbying.

“He was a devoted public servant whose life story reflects the very best of the American promise,” said Sen. Shelly Hettleman, a Baltimore County Democrat.

She also nodded to Steinberg’s “often spirited” relationship with Schaefer, with whom he feuded over tax policy.

Steinberg was born Oct. 4, 1933, and grew up in West Baltimore. His family lived in a home above a grocery store owned by his father, a Russian immigrant, The Baltimore Sun reported in a 1994 profile of his gubernatorial campaign. His mother was a Charm City native.

“My father worked in a shoe factory, and here I’m the lieutenant governor of the state,” he told The Sun at the time. “I want that opportunity for every person. When we walk out, Maryland will be a better place.”

Steinberg attended Baltimore public schools and was a double graduate of the University of Baltimore, earning an associate degree in 1955 and a law degree three years later, according to the Maryland State Archives.

He also served on active duty with the U.S. Navy from 1955-57.

After college, he started a career in law, mostly representing labor unions. He entered politics with a failed run for the House of Delegates in 1962 before his election to the Senate four years later, according to The Sun.

Outside politics, Steinberg invested in business and real estate, amassing personal wealth surpassing $4 million, The Sun reported.

He was also the ultimate family man and often watched his grandchildren over the weekends, friends and colleagues said. He is survived by his wife, Anita, and three children, Eddie, Susan and Barbara.

The family would always gather for Friday night dinners to spend intentional time with one another, said Richard Friedlander, a longtime family friend and former neighbor.

“There was incredible togetherness, and that was for the extended family as well,” he said. “Family really came at the top of the list.”

Steinberg was a “lovable character” and the ultimate “kibbitzer” — a joker who could find the humor in anything, Friedlander said. They’d talk about horse racing, a pastime Steinberg picked up from his brother-in-law. Friedlander also remembers seeing his neighbor drag a chair into his driveway to sit in the sun and relax after a long day.

But one of his favorite memories is when he walked into Steinberg’s kitchen and found him frying an egg. “Look at you cooking!” Friedlander recalled teasing him.

“Yeah?” Steinberg replied. “Watch.”

With a flick of his wrist, he expertly flipped the egg in the air.

Banner reporter Pamela Wood contributed to this story.

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