The University of Rochester community is mourning the loss of Gerald Rubenstein, 63, who died unexpectedly at home on Thursday. Rubenstein had served the University since 1970 in various capacities and was most recently a part-time associate professor of counseling at the Margaret Warner Graduate School of Education and Human Development. Rubenstein was also a psychotherapist in private practice.
"Jerry's commitment to his practice and clients greatly enriched his teaching and research, while the University remained his intellectual home," said Raffaella Borasi, Dean of the Warner School. "His compassion for people and his skill as a counselor helped to shape the Warner School community and a generation of our students. Our thoughts are with Jerry's wife, Eve, and his daughters and family at this difficult time."
Rubenstein taught master's and doctoral level courses in group facilitation and counseling. His research interests included psychoneuroimmunology, psychosomatic medicine, violence prevention, and working with anger and rage syndromes.
He was previously an instructor and assistant professor of psychology in the Psychiatry Department at the University of Rochester Medical School. He conducted numerous seminars and workshops in Mind/Body Process, Behavioral Medicine, and Stress Management as well as a year-long training program for local therapists and counselors. He worked with a variety of groups, including correctional and law enforcement officers, educators, industrial and business groups, and physical and mental health professionals. For seven years, he was the stress consultant to the Rochester Police Department in their nationally-acclaimed Stress Project.
"Jerry made us laugh and cry and taught us to see the world through a magical lens that made the ordinary extraordinary," said Kathryn Douthit, associate professor and chair of the counseling and human development programs. "To say that we will miss him terribly does not capture the profound loss that we will suffer as friends, colleagues, and a community. It is so ironic that we all turned to Jerry to help us heal in times of tragedy. He was always the first to step forward to help our Warner community make sense of those things that cause us unspeakable pain and anguish. We can only hope that we can honor Jerry's passing by showing him, wherever he may be, that he was indeed a master teacher and that he left us with at least a small portion of his wisdom and understanding of how to heal human suffering."
Rubenstein is a graduate of the University of Rochester. He earned his Ed.D. in education psychology in 1970. He received a master's degree in school psychology from St. Lawrence University and his bachelor's degree from Queens College, City University of New York.
Rubenstein is survived by his wife Eve and his daughters Heather and Jennifer. A service is planned for Sunday, August 26th, at Temple Sinai, 363 Penfield Road, in Rochester. The time is not yet available.