Paul Robert Abramson

East Lansing, MI

Paul R. Abramson, Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Michigan State University, died on Monday, February 12, 2018. Paul was born in St. Louis on November 28, 1937, graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Washington University in St. Louis, and earned a PhD in Political Science from the University of California at Berkeley in 1967. He served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army in 1960-62 and was promoted to captain in the U.S. Army Reserves in 1966.

Paul joined the Department of Political Science at Michigan State University in 1967, was promoted to Associate Professor in 1971, and to Professor in 1977. He was a senior Fulbright Fellow at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 1987-88, and a Lady Davis Fellow from October 1994 through January 1995 at the Hebrew University. Paul authored books on generational change in American politics, political attitudes of Black Americans, political attitudes in America, politics in the Bible, and the political career of the Biblical King David. He co-authored 18 books on U.S. presidential and congressional elections, co-authored a book with Ronald Inglehart on value change in global perspective, 73 journal articles, and many book chapters and encyclopedia entries.

Paul is survived by his devoted wife, Janet, to whom he was married 51 years, loving daughter Heather Krasna, dear son-in-law Stuart Krasna, and cherished granddaughter Elizabeth Krasna. He was predeceased by beloved son, Lee Abramson, who died of ALS on January 20, 2016.

The funeral will be Wednesday, February 14 at 2:00 p.m. at Congregation Shaarey Zedek, 1924 Coolidge Road, East Lansing, MI 48823.

Donations in memory of Paul may be made to Congregation Shaarey Zedek, 1924 Coolidge Road, East Lansing, MI 48823, www.shaareyzedek.com, or to the ALS Therapy Development Institute, 300 Technology Square, Suite 400, Cambridge, MA 02139, www.als.net. Online condolences may be left for his family at www.EstesLeadley.com

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