George C. Rosenwald, Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of Michigan, passed away on June 30, 2023 at the age of 90.
Professor Rosenwald received his B.A. degree from City College of New York in 1953 and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Yale University in 1954 and 1958, respectively. After a postdoctoral research fellowship at Yale, he came to the University of Michigan in 1958 as an instructor in the Department of Psychology and senior psychologist and later assistant director of the Psychological Clinic. He was promoted to assistant professor in 1960, associate professor in 1965, and professor in 1971. From 1962-64, he was a lecturer in social relations at Harvard University and assistant chief of the Clinical Psychology Service at the Massachusetts Mental Health Center. From 1968-69, he was a Fulbright lecturer at J. W. Goethe Universitat in Frankfurt. Professor Rosenwald retired from active faculty status on May 31, 2000.
Professor Rosenwald was a leading scholar in the fields of personality theory, psychopathology, and clinical psychology. His diverse contributions ranged from experimental studies of psychological defenses to discussions of psychodiagnosis and assessment to critiques of prevailing theoretical and empirical paradigms. His broad-ranging scholarship and rich array of interests extended well beyond psychology to include Thomas Mann, Shakespeare, structuralism, semiotics, creativity, philosophy of science, and social science methodology. Professor Rosenwald was an articulate and compelling proponent for qualitative, phenomenological, narrative, multiple-case, and life history research. He authored two books, numerous journal articles, chapters, and reviews. He sat on a number of editorial boards and was a deeply devoted and respected mentor to several generations of University of Michigan students. A highly sought-after speaker at events and conferences, Professor Rosenwald was also the organizer of several well-received conferences, including the 1994 "Psychoanalysis Among the Disciplines" Conference. Professor Rosenwald's work had a significant impact on the field of psychology.
His contributions helped to shape our understanding of psychological defenses, psychodiagnosis, and assessment. His work also helped to promote the use of qualitative methods in psychology, and he was especially well-known for his work on how people use stories and narratives to make sense of their lives and identities. Professor Rosenwald was a true scholar and a gifted teacher. His work will continue to inspire and inform psychologists for many years to come.
Professor Rosenwald is survived by his wife Gay, his daughters Julie (Steve Hathaway) and Eva (Christopher Taylor), his five grandchildren, Joey, Lena, Henry, Ruby, and Daniel, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Professor Rosenwald’s obituary can be found at this link.
Donations in memory of Professor Rosenwald can be made to the George Rosenwald Graduate Student Research Award Fund.
