Neil Gene Kotler, 70, of Arlington, Virginia, died January 13, 2012 from pneumonia, a complication of leukemia. He was born in Chicago, Illinois. He is the son of Betty and Maurice Kotler. Neil was the beloved husband of Wendy Kotler; devoted father of Jena Kotler Kauffman; father-in-law of Brian Kauffman; and grandfather of Adin and Jonah Kauffman.Dr. Kotler received his B.A. from Brandeis University, and spent two years in the Peace Corps in Ethiopia. He earned his Master's Degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and his Ph.D. in political science from the University of Chicago. Neil's career included teaching at Dartmouth, and the University of Texas at Austin. For many years, he served as a Legislative Director in the United States Congress. He spent the majority of his career at the Smithsonian Institution. Neil performed a variety of roles including working as a program specialist in the Office of Interdisciplinary Studies, managing the Smithsonian Advisory Council and leading executive searches. Neil co-authored a leading book on museums entitled "Museum Marketing and Strategy". He gave many lectures on museum marketing and strategy throughout the world.He will be dearly missed by many longtime friends and a devoted family including his brothers, Philip and Milton and their wives, Nancy and Greta; and all of his nieces and nephews. A funeral service will be held on Monday, January 16, 2012, 10 a.m. at Temple Rodef Shalom, 2100 Westmoreland Street, Falls Church, VA. Interment to follow at King David Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends immediately following the interment at the Kotler residence. Minyan services will be held Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Red Cross www.redcross.org or The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society www.lls.org