Marcus Goodman Raskin, 83, an aide to President John F. Kennedy who left government to co-found and co-direct the Institute for Policy Studies in 1963 and became a leading liberal intellectual and activist, died on Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017 in Washington, D.C. He was a professor at George Washington University's School of Public Policy and Administration, the author of more than 20 books, and a member of the editorial board of The Nation.
Raskin leaves his beloved wife, Lynn Randels Raskin, a passionate environmental activist to whom he has been lovingly married since 1985 and who was by his side at his passing, and four children, Erika Raskin Littlewood (and her husband, Dr. Keith Littlewood), Jamie Raskin (and his wife, Sarah Bloom Raskin), Noah Raskin (and his wife, Heather Maurer) and Eden Raskin Jenkins (and her husband, Brandon Jenkins). Raskin is survived by nine grandchildren, Emily Littlewood, Zachary Littlewood, Maggie Littlewood, Hannah Raskin, Tommy Raskin, Tabitha Raskin, Mariah Raskin, Boman Raskin and Daisy Raskin — and a tenth on the way. He also is survived by a great-grandson, Gray Lopatin.
There will be a Memorial Service on Monday, Feb. 12 at the Sixth and I Historic Synagogue in Washington, D.C. More details will be available in January from the office of Maryland U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin and from IPS.
The family thanks the thousands of friends and mourners who have been in touch and asks that, in lieu of flowers, contributions be sent to the Institute for Policy Studies.