'Hometown Hero' retains role in Woodlands arts culture

Dr. David Gottlieb, 83, has no plans of slowing down. The Woodlands resident authored the book, "Staying in the Game" in 2006, which chronicled the lives of extraordinary people over the age of 75. For Gottlieb, one aspect of staying in the game is working as vice president of Strategic Relations at Woodforest National Bank, a position he has held since 2003.

"I am in the community and am often the face of the bank," said Gottlieb. "I work long hours, but not behind a desk."

Gottlieb has been involved in the founding and growth of arts and cultural education in the community for many years. From 1995 to 2002, he was president and later chief executive officer of the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. Gottlieb was also instrumental in developing the Musical Score Program, an initiative for low-income children from Harris and Montgomery counties, and established volunteer and scholarship programs at the Pavilion.

While at the Pavilion, Gottlieb coined the term, "Rock Supports Bach." He noticed people would often buy tickets for rock concerts and buy merchandise. In contrast, symphony events were offered for free or were lower-priced and merchandise was not sold, he said.

The revenue raised from the rock concerts is what made offering free symphony concerts possible, he said.

Dr. Ann Snyder, president and chief executive officer of Interfaith of The Woodlands, served on one of Gottlieb's advisory committees at the Pavilion. She has known him for about 20 years.

"He was very committed to young people," said Snyder, who helped select Gottlieb for the Woodlands Hometown Heroes award in 2007. "He is a strong advocate for providing services to all."

In addition, Gottlieb has served on boards for organizations such as Montgomery County Youth Services, the Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival, the Woodlands Symphony Orchestra and the Montgomery County United Way. He has also served on the boards of the Montgomery County Women's Center and the Woodforest Charitable Foundation.

Gottlieb's community service extends beyond the Woodlands. In November 2010, the Israel Ministry of Defense awarded him the Israel Warriors Decoration for being a former crew member on the Josiah Wedgwood, a ship that transported more than a thousand Holocaust survivors from Europe to Palestine.

Gottlieb was 17 when he was on the ship. He wrote of the experience in "Almost a Mensch," an autobiography he published in December 2002.

When he returned to the United States, Gottlieb earned his GED and enrolled in college, ultimately receiving a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Chicago. He taught at several universities, including Harvard and Penn State University, and served as dean of the College of Social Sciences at the University of Houston.

His current project involves establishing a year-round performing arts center in The Woodlands.

A site for the center has been identified on The Woodlands Waterway adjacent to the pavilion by The Woodlands Development Company, Gottlieb said.

"He does not take 'no' for an answer, and that can be a very admirable trait," Snyder said. "If he truly believes in something, he will work to make it happen."