In Memoriam
We are saddened by the news that Dr. Aaron Beckerman, emeritus faculty member of Wurzweiler School of Social Work, and the father of Professor Nancy Beckerman, passed away on Monday, November 26, 2012 at the age of 89. This is a tremendous loss to our community and his family. Aaron was a colleague who exuded warmth and laughter whenever we were together.
He was designated by the NASWNYC Chapter as a Social Work Pioneer in recognition of his important professional contributions during more than 50 years of his career as a social worker. He received his master's degree at the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Work and his doctorate at Columbia.
A master teacher of research, he served on the faculty of the Wurzweiler School of Social Work for over thirty years, including several years as Associate Dean. He was a key member of the doctoral faculty and was a dissertation advisor for many Wurzweiler graduates. His interest in health care brought him an invitation to help develop and teach a seminar for students at the NYU Medical School focused on helping doctors understand and treat patients as whole persons functioning in a social environment.
Aaron's interest in social group work led to the authorship of a number of papers and active involvement with other social workers in that field. He served for two years on the board of the New York City chapter. He helped to found Rekindling Reform, a pioneering health reform and advocacy organization and was the vice-president of the Universal Health Care Foundation of New York
Over the past few years, Aaron pursued his interest in poetry and led a children's poetry workshop every summer at Camp Walt Whitman. He published a volume of his poems entitled "Meandering." On the last day of his life, he had an appointment to meet with the staff of his member of Congress in order to lobby against a Grand Bargain that would hurt our country's social programs and was unfortunately unable to keep that appointment. His former colleague Dr. Lou Levitt writes "I believe that if he had the opportunity, he would have echoed Joe Hill's famous message: Don't mourn for me.....ORGANIZE!"
The funeral for Aaron Beckerman will be Thursday November 29th, 2012 at 1:30pm at the Riverside Nassau North Chapel at 55 North Station Plaza.
The Yeshiva University family is deeply saddened to advise you of the passing, on Monday, August 27th, of Henry Voremberg, z’l, a former member and Vice Chair of the Board of Wurzweiler School of Social Work. Together with his wife Beate, z”l, Henry was a generous supporter of Wurzweiler, having established the Henry and Beate Voremberg Chair in Social Group Work and The Beate and Henry Voremberg Endowed Scholarship Fund at Wurzweiler. Henry Voremberg will be remembered with gratitude. We extend deepest sympathy to his children Leslie Kozupsky, an alumna of Wurzweiler, David Voremberg and their entire family
The family of Bella Harris (Wurzweiler '86) sadly reports her death after a long battle with lymphoma. She is survived by her husband Jack; daughter Judith (Wurzweiler '04); sons Richard, Edward and Gordon; and four grandchildren.
Condolences to Rebecca Leibowitz '09 on the loss of her grandfather, Herschel Leibowitz, PhD.
We are deeply saddened by the loss of our dear friend and Wurzweiler colleague Dr. Joanna Mellor, DSW, LMSW, who passed away 02/06/2011 from a long illness.More information about Dr. Joanna Mellor here (PDF). Obituary in the April 2011 NASW Newsletter (PDF).
Condolences to Dr. Michele-Winchester Vega '92 on the loss of her sister Lisa.
Mildred Golansky'75, retired social worker for the NYC Board of Education.
Beate Voremberg, wife of Henry Voremberg, a former member and Vice Chair of the Wurzweiler Board, passed away on November 22, 2010. Beate and Henry were generous supporters of the School having established the Henry and Beate Voremberg Chair in Group Work and the Beate and Henry Voremberg Endowed Scholarship Fund at Wurzweiler
Joel Daner '62, long time member of the Wurzweiler Board of Overseers, who devoted his professional career to enhancing the quality of Jewish Communal Services and the careers of Jewish Communal Professionals.
Julie Green, wife of Professor Emeritus Sol Green, a member of the Wurzweiler faculty from 1958-1987 and former Associate Dean
Richard Holody, a 1993 graduate of the Wurzweiler doctoral program and a faculty member at Lehmen College
Mariam Dinnerman, PhD, Professor Emeritus at Rutgers University School of Social Work and Adjunct Professor at Wurzweiler from 1999 through 2009, who mentored many of our doctoral students in their dissertation research.