A Playmaker On and Off the Court

Larry Gottlieb CCAS’74 never imagined that a summer spent playing in an outdoor basketball league in Collingswood, New Jersey, would lead him to a professional league overseas. An offer from a fellow Rutgers alumnus, however, changed everything.

“Steve Kaplan, who played for Rutgers–New Brunswick and grew up in Collingswood, had watched me play over the summer and asked if I would be interested in playing professionally in Israel," Gottlieb said. "I thought, how many chances will I get to extend my basketball career and travel the world?”

Gottlieb, a native of Camden, started playing basketball in the seventh grade, first as a small forward and then as a point guard—the position that leads the team on the court, setting up plays and creating opportunities to score. He eventually went on to become a proud member of the Rutgers–Camden basketball team.

Gottlieb fondly remembers his coach, Rutgers–Camden Hall of Famer Wilbur “Pony” Wilson, who honored him with the Most Valuable Player award in his first year on the team. In his senior year, Coach Wilson led Gottlieb and the Scarlet Raptors – then known as the Pioneers – to a winning record and a playoff run.

Photos from the 1973 Rutgers–Camden Yearbook and news clippings from the Courier Post (1972-1974).

As proud as he was—and still is—of his time as a Scarlet Raptor, Gottlieb never expected to advance his basketball career beyond the collegiate level. But within weeks of getting the call from Kaplan, he was on a plane to Israel and suiting up to play for Hapoel Ramat-Gan, part of the Israeli Basketball Premier League.

“It took me a while to adjust to the culture, but the fans were incredible, and it was exciting,” said Gottlieb. “At the time, most games were played outdoors, and even though many areas in Israel are warm, I’ll never forget how cold I was when we went to Jerusalem to play.”

The success he experienced on the hardwood of Rutgers–Camden followed him to Israel. In his first year, his team finished second in the league, leading to an invitation to a postseason tournament in Monaco. They also successfully won against the number one team in the league, Maccabi Tel Aviv, which had been undefeated for over two years.

After a second successful year in Israel, he faced a choice. Because he is of Jewish ancestry, Gottlieb was automatically granted Israeli citizenship when he moved there to play. This also meant that if he stayed, he would be required to complete mandatory military service after his second year. He chose instead to return home and continue his education—but he didn’t stop making plays.

Images from Larry Gottlieb's time playing professional basketball in Israel. Images courtesy Larry Gottlieb.

After obtaining a master's in social work from Yeshiva University and a master’s in hospital administration from New York University, Gottlieb began a long and successful career in public health.

“I’ve always had a passion for helping people, and I was able to work in a hospital setting for many years guiding people to the help they needed, often when they were in crisis," Gottlieb said. "It was very satisfying."

Gottlieb spent the latter part of his career bringing together public and private interests to help homeless individuals find housing, health care, employment, and other support to help them create more stable, successful lives. As director of homeless programs for Eliot Community Human Services in Lexington, Massachusetts, he led a team of more than 50 professionals responsible for assisting and supporting homeless individuals across the state.

Although he retired in July 2020, he continues volunteering with an organization that builds and manages affordable, permanent housing for low-income and homeless individuals.

For Gottlieb, his focus has always been on being a part of a team that makes a difference, whether pursuing his love of basketball as a young man or creating a career and a life dedicated to helping others.

“My advice to someone who might just be graduating would be to find your passion and realize nothing is permanent,” Gottlieb said. “Life will give you so many different opportunities to make ‘plays,’ and you should not limit yourself.”

Larry Gottlieb CCAS’74

Larry Gottlieb CCAS’74

A Man on a Mission

Since retiring in 2020, Gottlieb has volunteered with the Metro North Housing Corporation in Malden, Massachusetts, a nonprofit that develops and operates affordable housing for homeless individuals. The organization recently completed construction on a new 14-unit building and will begin welcoming residents on September 1, 2024.

Design: Douglas Shelton
Images courtesy Larry Gottlieb