Eugene Eidenberg

Eugene Eidenbergled distinguished careers in public service, academia, business, and philanthropy. He attended the University of Wisconsin and graduated with a B.A. in Political Science. After completing his Masters and Ph.D. in Political Science from Northwestern University, he taught political science at the University of Minnesota and was then appointed Vice President of Administration for the University of Minnesota system. Gene left his academic career in 1977 to join President Jimmy Carter's administration, first as Deputy Undersecretary of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare; then on the White House Staff as Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet and Deputy Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs; concluding his service as a member of the President's Senior White House Staff, reporting directly to the President. Following the Carter Administration, Gene became Executive Director of the Democratic National Committee. In 1982, William G. McGowan, founder and chairman of MCI Communications, convinced Gene to join MCI as Senior Vice President for Regulatory and Public Policy. During his career with MCI, Gene served as Senior Vice President for Strategic Planning and Corporate Development, President of MCI's Pacific Division in San Francisco, and Executive Vice President and Group Executive for MCI's International Business Operations. After MCI, Gene pursued a highly successful career in the worlds of high tech business and venture capital investment. He served as President and CEO of Macrovision Corp., was a Principal in the San Francisco-based venture capital firm of Hambrecht & Quist, and joined Granite Venture Associates LLC. Gene also served on the board and as chairman of Internap Network Services Corporation (NASDQ; INAP). When Barack Obama ran for President in 2008, Gene and his wife Anna moved to Southern New Mexico to register voters and work on the campaign. Gene helped to recruit, organize, and train volunteer attorneys from across the country to staff the Democratic Party's Voter Protection Project which reduced incidents of voting rights violations in areas historically known for voter harassment. Gene's first marriage to Susan Zox produced two lovely daughters, Danielle and Elizabeth. Later, he would marry Angenette Martin, who specialized in grassroots organizing and consulting for political campaigns and other social causes. When Angie was later diagnosed with breast cancer, Gene took a leave from work to be with her as she fought the disease that would eventually take her life. In 1999, Gene married former San Francisco news anchor and broadcast journalist Anna Chavez. Eugene Eidenberg is survived by his wife, Anna Chavez; his sister, Dorothea Ellern; his brother, David Eidenberg; his daughters, Danielle Eidenberg-Noppe and Elizabeth Cazenave; and their families Phil Eidenberg-Noppe, Naomi Ariel and Esther Dov Eidenberg Noppe; and Eric Cazenave, Nora Grace and Owen Eli Cazenave.