Categories: Member News
11.09.2015
Robert Neugeboren Passes Away:
Long-time resident of and spokesperson for supportive housing.
First Lady Rosalyn Carter with Mr. Neugeboren & Mr. Mutton
This is a guest post by Jim Mutton, Director of NYC Operations, Concern for Independent Living, who worked closely with Mr. Neugeboren when he was a tenant at Project Renewal's Clinton Residence, where Mr. Mutton was the Director. Mr. Mutton worked closely with both Robert and his brother Jay Neugeboren advocating for a variety of issues including a robust NY/NY II.
I was saddened to read in the New York Times about the passing of Robert Neugeboren recently at the age of 72. However, I was fortunate to participate in one of the most successful and enjoyable decades of Robert's life, while he resided in supportive housing at Project Renewal and later at Fountain House, two of New York's most successful nonprofits. From 1999 to 2006, Robert was perhaps one of the most famous residents at Project Renewal's Clinton Residence, a supportive housing program for 57 formerly homeless men and women recovering from mental illness in midtown west. Robert was the subject of several books by his brother, noted author Jay Neugeboren; in addition to a Carter Center award-winning documentary"Imagining Robert" by filmmaker Larry Hott, and his own book of memoirs from young adulthood, "The Hillside Diary And Other Writings".
"For 39 years", notes Hott, "[Robert] lived within the mental health system, his treatment prognosis changing with each new doctor and each new 'cure'. He has been in state hospitals, city hospitals, halfway houses, group homes, jail cells, elite treatment centers, forensic hospitals... He has been treated with gas inhalation, insulin coma therapy, four-point restraints, and virtually the entire armamentaria of neuroleptic and psychotropic drugs. Through the years he's also participated in group therapy, family therapy, psychoanalytic therapy, art therapy, behavioral therapy, vocational rehabilitation therapy and milieu therapy. Most often, though, he has had an abundance of drugs and a sad lack of care."
Despite decades of doctors' predictions that he would never be able to live outside an institution, Robert enjoyed the longest period of stability at Project Renewal since the onset of his disease over sixty years prior. During his six years living at the Clinton, he was not hospitalized once. History aside, the staff at the Clinton worked with Robert from a basic premise - one of mutual respect and understanding for each other's needs. For Robert, a formula of successful community reintegration included three basic factors - a safe and comfortable place to live; vocational opportunity; and the chance to make friends. Robert conquered the culture shock of adjusting to life in the community, recognizing those involved in his life - his brother; his case manager; his Fountain House peers; his psychiatrist; nurse; case aide - from a different set of values than those that predominated in the state hospital. Robert became a successful member of Fountain House, the local psychosocial club where he worked in the International Training Unit assisting with tours and education, in addition to working a Transitional Employment position once or twice a month. He enjoyed trips to the Fountain House farm unit on weekends, as well as spending time with his older brother Jay and other family members. As his brother noted at the time, "It's amazing - he is thriving at Project Renewal. I feel like I have the brother I remember back." In 2006, he realized another goal of moving to more permanent housing with Fountain House.
In addition to being a resident in supportive housing, Robert spent considerable time and energy on the promotion of mental health education, parity and understanding through activities associated with the award-winning documentary, "Imagining Robert". In October 2003, Robert and his brother, Jay were presented with the Ken Steele Award for Courage by New York City Voices. Later that month, Robert traveled to the Carter Center in Atlanta, Georgia to meet Rosalyn Carter as part of a panel discussion and screening of the film. I'll never forget standing in the Carter Center waiting for the former First Lady to greet us. Surrounded by Secret Service personnel, Robert suddenly reached out and planted a kiss on Mrs. Carter's hand, such as he was, as ever, the ultimate charmer...
Rest in peace, Robert.