Kunin, Madeleine (1933–)

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Kunin, Madeleine (1933–)

American politician. Born Madeleine May, Sept 28, 1933, in Zurich, Switzerland; dau. of Ferdinand May (Grman-Jewish shoe importer) and Renee Bloch May; University of Massachusetts, BA in history; University of Vermont, MA in English literature; Columbia University, MA in journalism; m. Dr. Arthur Kunin, 1961 (div. 1995); children: 4.

With mother and brother, fled the Nazi threat and moved to NY (1940); grew up in Pittsfield, MA; moved to Vermont and was a reporter for Burlington Free Press; as a Democrat, was elected lieutenant governor (1978, 1980); became the 1st woman governor of Vermont, serving for 3-terms (1984–91); served as US deputy US secretary of education (1993–96) and ambassador to Switzerland (1996–99).

See also memoir Living a Political Life (1994).