The toy industry has lost a legend and a friend.
Richard Gottlieb, Founder and CEO of Global Toy Experts, Publisher of Global Toy News, and Co-Host of The Playground Podcast died last night following a battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
Gottlieb publicly revealed his diagnosis in January, following a year-long journey to discover why he had been having trouble with his voice. At the time, ALS was only affecting his tongue and throat.
“My mantra has always been there is not a lot I can control in life, but I can manage a lot, and that’s what I will do,” Gottlieb said at the time.
Despite the loss of his voice, Gottlieb remained passionate about the toy industry, charging ahead and traveling the world to attend tradeshows and events — all with an infectious smile and enthusiasm that remained until the end.
At Toy Fair in New York earlier this month, Gottlieb showed no signs of slowing down, communicating via text and vibrant body language with a forward-looking outlook on where the business would go in 2024 and beyond.
The entire team at The Toy Book sends its condolences to Richard’s family, including his kids, grandkids, and his wife, Wendy.
Update: The Toy Foundation and the University of Richmond are honoring Richard with a grant program. Get details here.
