David Baird Goldstein, 1951-2024
David B. Goldstein, 73, died October 18th at home after a valiant struggle with cancer. His life was defined by his closeness to family and friends and to his transformative work of protecting the environment from climate change and air pollution. His professional success was aided by his uncanny ability to explain complex and nuanced concepts to non-technical audiences of political decision-makers, his students, mentees, and family members.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, he attended Cleveland Heights High School and UC Berkeley, earning a BA and a Ph.D. in physics. At Natural Resources Defense Council for 43 years, he was a tireless advocate for energy efficiency codes and standards for appliances, buildings, and industry. He was instrumental in improving building standards in China, India and Russia.
He was awarded a 2002 MacArthur Foundation fellowship and the 1998 Leo Szilard Award for Physics in the Public Interest. He authored Saving Energy Growing Jobs and Invisible Energy.
David had numerous interests, chief among them his family, travel, photography, classical and rock music, the arts, and Judaism. He met his wife, Julia Vetromile, on public transit. They became inseparable, marrying in 1980, and living in San Francisco. In addition to his wife, David is survived by his children Elianna Goldstein (Robert) and Abraham Goldstein (Alana), sister Joan Bendix (Jeff); and grandchildren Gabriel, Eli, Ariadne, Asher, and Judah.
Continue his legacy by performing innovative and creative work, listening with intention, loving fully, and developing further ways to reduce carbon emissions and repair the world. Donations can be made to Institute for Market Transformation or NRDC.