Robert H. Rossberg, Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus

OBERT H. ROSSBERG, 70, SUNY Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus in the Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology at UB, died May 5 in Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital from complications of diabetes.

Rossberg, who joined the UB faculty in 1956, held several key administrative posts, including vice president for academic affairs, during his 40-year career at the university. He continued to teach part time following his retirement in 1994.

Since 1977, Rossberg had hosted and produced several popular radio programs focusing on the history of jazz for WBFO 88.7 FM, the National Public Radio affiliate operated by UB. Among them were "The Sound of Swing," distributed nationally over the National Public Radio Satellite System, and "The Jazz Singers." WBFO will air a memorial program to Rossberg from 10 a.m. to noon on Sunday, May 12.

In 1994, Rossberg was awarded UB's President's Medal for "signal and extraordinary service to the university." It cited him for bringing "his keen intellect, sensitive counsel and even-handed leadership to a vast range of university endeavors."

UB President William R. Greiner praised Rossberg's contributions to the university. He noted: "Bob Rossberg was deeply dedicated to the University at Buffalo, in both visible and not-so-visible ways. Some of my happiest days in university administration were those I spent working with him. UB is a far, far better institution for his presence, and for what he did here.

"Bob had a lasting commitment to UB. He led well. He served well. His focus was always on the best interests of the university. He was a truly great teacher, not just in a classroom with students, but in any setting. He was the best, most perceptive listener I've ever known."

Greiner added: "He was also one of the most delightful people I've ever known: honest, decent, compassionate, with a wonderful sense of humor. He was a renaissance man of enormous breadth, who could talk intelligently across a range of subjects, from biomedical science to philosophy to baseball to jazz.

"Bob Rossberg was a genuinely great human being. UB will miss him terribly, as will I."

As UB's vice president for academic affairs from 1980-84, Rossberg supervised reallocation of more than 100 faculty positions during a time of severe budget restraint to restore balance to the university's academic enterprise. He also initiated a self-study that led to revitalization of programs in the arts and sciences, and helped initiate major reorganization of programs designed to aid students at risk, including minority students.

In his last administrative post, he served as interim dean of the UB Faculty of Arts and Letters from September 1990 to August 1991. He had served as interim dean of the School of Health Related Professions from 1987-88 and interim chair of the Department of Psychology from 1988-89.

Dean of the old Faculty of Educational Studies, now the Graduate School of Education, from 1978-80, he served as acting chair of the old Department of Counselor Education in 1970 and earlier had helped develop the doctoral programs in education as associate dean of the old School of Education from 1965-67. As director of the graduate programs in counseling and educational psychology from 1961-65, he helped develop the doctoral programs in counseling and educational psychology. From 1956-60, he was director of the Rehabilitation Counselor Training Program.

The former chair of several university-wide committees, Rossberg had served on the President's Board on Appointments, Promotion and Tenure and on the executive committee of the Graduate School. A former member of the executive committee of the University Senate, now the Faculty Senate, he served as its secretary pro-tem from 1969-70 and was an elected senator-at-large with the SUNY Senate from 1959-62.

In addition to his UB duties, Rossberg had served as a consultant to a number of federal agencies and institutions, including the U.S. Civil Service commission, U.S. Office of Education and the City University of New York. He served as a consultant to U.S. Judge John Curtin in developing the desegregation plan for the Buffalo Public Schools, as well as on an advisory panel named by the state education commissioner that developed methods of evaluating doctoral programs offered by universities in New York State.

Rossberg was the author of three books. The most recent, "Counseling: Theory and Process," was co-authored with UB colleagues Stanley Cramer and James Hansen and published in 1994. He also had authored chapters in several books and many journal articles.

A past president of the Western New York Personnel and Guidance Association and Psychological Association of Western New York, he had served as an editorial associate with Urban Education and Counselor Education and Supervision.

A member of the Thursday Club, Rossberg was a member of the board of directors of the Jewish Federation of Greater Buffalo and the Jewish Family Services of Buffalo and Erie County. He was honored by the Polish Arts Club of Buffalo in 1982 for promoting the interest of Polish culture, including establishment of a Polish studies component at UB.

Rossberg received his bachelor's degree cum laude from The City College of New York in 1949. He received a master's degree from Teachers College of Columbia University in 1951 and his doctorate in rehabilitation psychology from New York University in 1956. Before being named an assistant professor at UB in 1956, he was a counseling psychologist with the Federation of the Handicapped in New York City from 1950-51 and a staff psychologist/assistant chief psychologist at New York University Medical Center from 1951-56.

He served as a flight engineer in the U.S. Army Air Force in the Western Pacific Theater of Operations from 1944-46.

A fund has been established in Rossberg's honor to enhance the study of counseling and human development. Contributions, clearly marked for the Robert H. Rossberg Fund and payable to UB Foundation Inc., should be sent to the Graduate School of Education.