Obituary of Milton Schwebel

Milton Schwebel of Tucson, AZ, born in Troy, NY, and formerly from New Brunswick, NJ, died at the age of 99 on October 3. Above all, he was a loving family man. He was a distinguished professor, author, psychologist and dean at New York University and later Rutgers University. He served in the US Army during World War II in the European theater. Among his numerous publications was the influential book, Who Can be Educated? His broad professional interests are reflected in the titles of his other books and articles including: America's Three School Systems: Now Separate and Unequal; Behavioral Science and Human Survival; "Children and the Threat of Nuclear War;" "The Well-Functioning Psychologist;" A Guide to a Happier Family; and "Moral Creativity as Artistic Transformation." He believed fervently that humans possess the power to advance their intelligence, change their lives and circumstances, and achieve peaceful solutions to conflict. He was an ardent peace, civil rights, and civil justice activist throughout his life and founder of Peace and Conflict: The Journal of Peace Psychology published by the American Psychological Association. A proud Union College graduate (1934), he later completed his education with a social science degree at Albany and Ph.D. from Columbia University. In his childhood he worked as a clerk and salesperson in the Troy Light Company, a store his father founded. In his early years he worked as a theater usher, substitute teacher, children's camp counselor, orphanage houseparent with his wife Bernice, newspaper reporter, radio news announcer, and career counselor and labor market analyst in the National Youth Administration. He was married to the love of his life, Bernice Davison Schwebel for 67 years until she passed away in 2007. They had two sons, Andrew (deceased) and Robert. Milton was loving father-in-law to Carol Schwebel and to Claudia Schwebel; loving grandfather to David and his wife Yikun, Sara, Frank and Henry, and loving great-grandfather to Andy and Rosa. He was a loving brother to Walter Schwebel (deceased), Tobie Kessler, Leah Gaies and Rosalind Kaufman (deceased). He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, in-laws and other family members. He loved them all, lived his life to the fullest, and loved life. Services at Temple Beth El, 411 Hoosick Street, Troy, New York on Sunday, October 6, 2013 at 11:00am. Interment will follow in the family plot at the Beth Tephilah Cemetery on Spring Avenue in Troy. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make a donation in memory of Milton Schwebel to: Society of the Study of Peace, Conflict, and Violence (Division 48, American Psychological Association), 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002.