Marvin Kitman

Marvin Kitman (born November 24, 1929) is an American television critic, humorist, and author. He was a columnist for Newsday for 35 years and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism in 1982. He is the author of nine books, including two on George Washington that combine humor with extensive historical research.

Kitman was born on November 24, 1929, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His family moved to Brooklyn, New York, during his childhood. A line he subsequently used often was, "Some parents send their kids to Switzerland 'for finishing'; mine brought me to Brooklyn." In any case, he has remained a fan of the Pittsburgh Pirates throughout his life.

He attended Brooklyn Technical High School graduating in 1947. He then graduated from City College of New York with a Bachelor of Arts in 1953.

Kitman married the former Carol Sibushnick in 1951. She became a photographer.

Kitman was drafted into the Army of the United States, where he served from 1953 to 1955. During this time he was a member of the 47th Infantry Regiment in the 9th Infantry Division stationed at Fort Dix. In his later telling, he "rose in only two years to the rank of Private First Class".

Upon his return, the couple raised a son and two daughters. They became longtime residents of Leonia, New Jersey, beginning in 1961. He became active in several organizations within the town. He lived across the street from novelist Robert Ludlum, then working on the first in a long list of thrillers, the sight of which Kitman later said inspired him to get serious about his own writing.

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