December
15, 1941 — May 24, 2026
A
memorial service will be held for Brian Steinberg on Friday, June 12
at 10am at the Pond House, 1555 Asylum Avenue, West Hartford.
Brian
passed away peacefully surrounded by family on May 24th, 2026 at the
age of 84. Brian lived life loudly in a rhythm of movement and sound,
fueled by his involvement in the popular music scene and politics. He
was born in Hartford to an Italian mother and Jewish father. His
early home life introduced him to politics at a young age. Brian’s
father, Hyman, owned a popular West Hartford pizza restaurant called
Dino’s, but Hyman’s passion was his involvement in the Communist
Party — something he passed down to his son.
As
a card-carrying Communist at the height of McCarthyism, Brian’s
father was pursued by the US government and found himself on the
front page of the paper. Though Hyman’s political affiliation cost
the family their house, he maintained his beliefs and the experience
only further instilled those values in his son. Brian went on to
become a leader in the Communist Party and active member throughout
his life.
Brian
attended Weaver High School in Hartford and was very active in both
student government and his school’s marching band. In his freshman
year, Brian started playing tenor sax in an R&B band called the
Downbeats. Brian’s brothers Bill and Jim were also members of the
band and Hyman was their manager. The Downbeats were CT’s first
integrated group and their widespread popularity inspired the state’s
two music unions (one Black and one white) to integrate. Though their
early gigs were mostly bar mitzvahs and high school dances, the
Downbeats eventually gained so much popularity that their concerts
brought them to venues across New England and helped finance Brian’s
bachelor’s degree at UConn. The Downbeats played back-up for
several notable artists when they came through Hartford such as
Gladys Knight & the Pips, The Marvellets, The Four Tops, Chuck
Berry, and Stevie Wonder.
At
UConn, Brian maintained his political leanings and became one of the
first left-wing students to run for and win a student government
position. The FBI, which wasn’t happy that a Communist student was
in power, came to investigate him. He later continued his activism in
Mississippi in 1963 when several civil rights workers were killed by
the Ku Klux Klan. Brian headed south, joining the movement to
register voters. Brian attended the March on Washington in August,
1963 and was honored to hear Reverend Martin Luther King speak.
Brian’s political involvement took a deeper dive into academia when
he completed his master’s at the University of Wisconsin and his
PhD at New York University in political science.
Brian
met his wife Merrilee through his sister, Bobbie. Brian and Merrilee
shared a love and passion for activism and the pursuit of social
justice. Their 30 years together before her death were filled with
rallies, political meetings, heated political conversations, and a
close-knit group of friends and family. One notable year, their
daughter Jane spent Thanksgiving with her grandparents because both
Brian and Merrilee were in jail after being arrested at a protest.
Merrilee was a labor organizer who rose quickly through the ranks of
the union. When Merrilee was offered a top organizing job, Brian
turned down a professorship offer at Rutgers University to stay at
home with their young daughter, Jane. Brian went on to teach for 47
years at Westfield State University. He taught political science, and
ran their award-winning Model United Nations club.
Brian
was a beloved teacher in the Communist Party. He was a master of
Marxism-Leninism which exposes capitalist exploitation, racism and
war, and explains how to build unity to achieve equality and
socialism. He dedicated himself to organizing in the multi-racial
neighborhoods of Hartford, bringing the People's World to hundreds of
families up to his last days. He opened new possibilities for those
who wanted to make a better world and built Communist Party clubs
throughout the area. His concept of neighborhood organizing with the
People's World set a new standard throughout Connecticut and
nationally.
Brian
later met his partner, Sue Tenorio, through his work on the Hartford
police civilian review board. Sue and Brian were together for 10
years before his death.
Brian
is survived by his daughter Jane Steinberg and son-in-law Jordan
Cahan, grandchildren Sydney and Dashiell Cahan, siblings Jim
Steinberg, Bill Steinberg and his wife Karen, as well as his partner,
Sue Tenorio. He also leaves behind beloved nieces and nephews, and
his dog Mookie. He is predeceased by his sister Bobbie Koplowitz and
wife Merrilee Milstein.
May
Brian’s lifelong fight for justice and equality be an inspiration
to all that knew him and beyond.
In
lieu of flowers please consider donating to the CT People’s World
Committee, 37 Howe Street, New Haven, CT 06511
