Richard Sugarman

Richard Sugarman
Born	Richard Ira Sugarman (1944-07-12) July 12, 1944 Buffalo, New York, U.S.
Residence	Burlington, Vermont, U.S.
Alma mater	Yale University Boston University
Occupation	Academic, political advisor
Spouse(s)	Linda Sugarman
Children	3

Richard Sugarman is an American academic and political advisor. He is a Professor of Religion and Philosophy at the University of Vermont and "a world-renowned expert on the Lithuanian-born philosopher Emmanuel Levinas." He is a political advisor to presidential candidate Bernie Sanders on his 2016 presidential campaign.

Early life

Richard Sugarman was born in Buffalo, New York. He is of Ukrainian Jewish descent on his paternal side and of English Jewish descent on his maternal side. His father's family were Hasidic Jews; his mother was a Reform Jew. His father was a serial entrepreneur.

Sugarman was graduated from Creighton University in 1966. At Yale, his roommate was Joe Lieberman, who later served as United States Senator. One of his professors was John Daniel Wild, and he also was mentored by Paul Weiss. Sugarman received a Master of Arts degree from Yale in 1969 and, later, a doctorate from Boston University. His thesis was entitled, Toward a Phenomenology of Ressentiment.

Academic career

Sugarman started teaching at the University of Vermont in 1970. He has taught in the Department of Religion since 1974. He is a Professor of "phenomenology, Jewish philosophy, existentialism, and the humanities." He is "a world-renowned expert on the Lithuanian-born philosopher Emmanuel Levinas." He is the author of several books.

According to Anna-Teresa Tymieniecka, "one of his journal articles in Phenomenological Inquiry was on [Pope John Paul II's] nightstand the day he died."

Political consultancy career

Sugarman encouraged Bernie Sanders to run for mayor of Burlington, Vermont in 1981 after the two had lived together. He is an advisor to the 2016 Bernie Sanders presidential campaign.

Personal life

Sugarman has a wife, Linda, and three children. They reside in Burlington, Vermont. Sugarman has arthritis. He is an Orthodox Jew and attended Congregation Ahavath Gerim. He is also an "unapologetic Zionist."