You do not currently have permission to view the full text for this document. Please sign in to an account with an active subscription or contact support.
Herbert M. Rosenthal, MD, was a member of the faculty of the American Institute for Psychoanalysis as well as a Supervising and Training Analyst. He died this past spring and left those of us who knew him with many wonderful memories.
Dr. Rosenthal was born in Germany and was educated there. After receiving his formal education he went to Switzerland to receive his medical education. He was forced to flee from Nazi forces during World War II and was actually captured in Italy at one point. He was able to free himself and with the aid of his wife-to-be was able to emigrate to the United States. After arriving here he did his residency training in the New York State Hospital system and there met Harry Gershman, MD, and others from our group. After residency he came to New York and became a candidate. He was an analysand of Isidore Portnoy, MD. He graduated the Institute in 1968.
The best words to describe Dr. Rosenthal are kind, generous, supportive, and gentle. Those of us who knew him remember well his keen interest in our growth as people and his respect for our uniqueness. He embodied the essence of Horney's main theme: the identification and support of constructive forces in both his clinical and educational activities. His courage in facing the many enemies in his homeland later translated to his instilling such courage in his analysands’ facing of their inner demons. He never gave up. He was in it for the long haul and his students and patients always knew it. Dr. Rosenthal had a particular affection for artists, and for the artistic in all of us. He also possessed his own great understated art—that of helping people gently, patiently, and passionately.
In his later years Dr. Rosenthal was afflicted with cerebrovascular disease and suffered several strokes. Despite this he continued to see a few patients and to communicate with his old friends. His wife, Irmie, an accomplished artist, died several years ago. He is survived by his daughter Vicki. Dr. Rosenthal will