Myron Herbert Goldstein, 79, of Leawood, Kansas, passed away on September 16, 2026.
He was born in the Bronx on January 20, 1947, to David and Sylvia Marantz Goldstein. He grew up in Flushing, New York, in a home built by his father, a builder and developer, as the beloved youngest of three children. He shared his colorful New York childhood with his siblings, Jack and Marilyn, a bevy of cousins, and a close group of “boys on the block” who remained lifelong friends.
David envisioned a family business and declared that Jack would become an engineer, Marilyn an attorney, and Myron an architect — and so they did. Myron graduated from P.S. 32, attended the prestigious Brooklyn Technical High School, and earned his architecture degree from the University of Oklahoma.
While in Norman, Oklahoma, Myron formed lasting friendships and met his soulmate and wife, Suzy Portnoff Goldstein. What followed was a beautiful love story spanning 56 wonderfully entertaining years. His natural charisma and magnetic personality drew people in, qualities he passed on to his sons, Darren and Erich. When Amy and Halley joined the growing family, a new layer of fun began — along with Myron’s cherished role as “Gramps” to Sam, Jake, Max, Zoey and Sadie.
After graduation, Myron and Suzy moved to Kansas City, where he began his career in 1970 at Abend and Singleton Architects. In 1975, he joined GSA as an estimator in the Professional Services Branch for Region 6. He was later promoted to Senior Architect, evaluated our eight U.S. Presidential Libraries, and went on to manage the design and construction of the Robert Dole Courthouse and the Eagleton Courthouse. He also created the Project Management Center of Expertise. After retiring, Myron came full circle by commuting to New York City for two years to consult on his final project, the Thurgood Marshall Courthouse. His colleagues valued his leadership and mentorship, and many became lifelong friends.
Whether with family, close friends, colleagues, or someone he had just met, Myron had a way of making people feel included, entertained, and at ease. Myron loved being outdoors, whether running, biking, swimming, or enjoying time with family and friends at the beach. One of his favorite pastimes was attending sporting events and recitals for his five grandchildren, riding bikes with friends on the weekends, and enjoying Maui escapes with Peter, Debs and Zelle. Among his life highlights were riding across Iowa on RAGBRAI with Darren and Erich, the family’s annual trip to Hilton Head and sharing stories with his circle of friends at the JCC “The Nook.”
Myron was preceded in death by his parents David and Sylvia and his beloved sister, Marilyn Goldstein Malick and her husband, Jack. He is survived by his wife, Suzy Portnoff Goldstein; sons Darren (Amy) Goldstein of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Erich (Halley) Goldstein of Leawood; five grandchildren, Samuel, Jacob, Sadie, Maxwell, and Zoey Rose; his brother Jacob “Jack” Goldstein and wife, Sondra, of Yorktown Heights, New York; sister-in-law Debra Portnoff Rettman and husband, Peter; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and cousins.
Funeral services were held at Louis Memorial Chapel on Friday, September 18, with burial at Kehilath Israel Blue Ridge Cemetery.
Myron was a proud Hadassah Associate, a member of B’nai Jehudah, and a regular at the Jewish Community Center. The family suggests memorial contributions to any of these organizations that were meaningful parts of his life.
Myron was one of a kind, will be deeply missed, always loved, and forever remembered.
