Upcoming Services
| Marge Samson |
Sun May 5th at 1:30 IRA KAUFMAN CHAPEL | |
| Edward Grant |
Fri Apr 19th at 3:00 GRAVESIDE |
FUNERAL DETAILS
Dr. Ralph D. Rabinovitch
Dr. Ralph D. Rabinovitch, 98, of Livonia, Michigan, died on 23 December 2015. The Memorial Service was held at IRA KAUFMAN CHAPEL on Sunday, 31 January 2016 at 12:00 PM . Rabbi Paul Yedwab and Cantorial Soloist Rachel Kalmowitz officiated. Click  to watch a video of the recorded service.Dr. Ralph Rabinovitch died peacefully surrounded by his family on December 23, 2015 in Minneapolis. He was born on January 17, 1917 in Montreal, Canada. He received his undergraduate and medical degrees from McGill University and completed a psychiatric residency at the University of Toronto. During World War II, he served as psychiatrist in the Canadian army. Dr. Rabinovitch and his late wife, Dr. Sara Dubo, trained in child psychiatry under Dr. Lauretta Bender at Bellevue Hospital in New York City. In 1949, they moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan to co-found Children Psychiatric Hospital at the University of Michigan. In 1956, they co-founded Hawthorn Center for the State of Michigan. They developed Hawthorn into an innovative and nationally renowned medical center for troubled children and adolescents. Hawthorn was the first comprehensive facility in the United States with outpatient, inpatient, day school, research and training programs for disturbed children. Dr. Rabinovitch authored numerous influential papers on early infantile autism, dyslexia, juvenile delinquency, inpatient psychiatric treatment, and graphic art in child psychiatry. His film on on graphic art in child psychiatry, titled "Stevie's Light Bulb", won the Blue Ribbon Award at the American Film Festival. In his clinical practice, Dr. Rabinovitch helped countless children and families manage and overcome mental illness. Dr. Rabinovitch and his wife founded the Michigan Association For Emotionally Disturbed Children (now called "MACED"), a public advocacy group and support organization. Dr. Rabinovitch received awards for medical teaching from the University of Michigan and Wayne State University and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Michigan Psychiatric Society. After retiring as Director of Hawthorn Center, Dr. Rabinovitch continued to teach psychiatry residents until age 80. He devoted his retirement years to his family including his wife, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. He was a prolific reader-reading often a book a day on a wide variety of subjects. He supported liberal causes and contributed to numerous charities. Dr. Rabinovitch is most remembered for his great intelligence, warmth and humor. He is survived by his son Dr. Mark Rabinovitch and his wife, Karen, of Minneapolis, his daughter Marge and her husband, Richard Michaud, of Newton, Massachusetts, his grandchildren, Mathew and his wife, Priscilla, of Spokane, Washington, Leah Pires and her husband, Luis, of Minneapolis, Annie Rabinovitch of Richmond, Virginia, and Sara Rabinovitch of Eugene, Oregon, and his great grandchildren, Daphne, Sage and Julia. It is suggested that those who wish to further honor the memory of Dr. Ralph D. Rabinovitch may do so by making a contribution to: Gleaners Community Food BankClick to Visit Charity Website or Reach Out and ReadClick to Visit Charity Website |