J. Eehav. Ther. & Exp. Psychiat. Vol. 5, p. 117. Pergamon Press, 1974. Printed in Great Britain.

OBITUARY

MICHAEL SERBER 1932-1974

PSYCHIATRY and mental health lost a creative young clinician, teacher and researcher in the untimely death from cancer of Michael Serber on February 12, 1974, at the age or forty-two. He was Clinical Director of Atascadero State Hospital in California and Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of California at Los Angeles. He was Co-Principal Investigator in two NIMH Grants, “Intensive Treatment for Mentally Ill Offenders” and “Behavior Therapy for Suicidal Patients”. An innovative and sensitive clinician, Serber made many contributions to legal psychiatry and be- havior therapy, including methods of treatment for sexual dysfunction, phobias, suicidal beha- vior, and deficits in social skills. He pioneered the systematic teaching of non-verbal compo- nents in assertive training and introduced the use of film and videotape feedback to teach asser- tiveness, tenderness and other social and sexual skills. He also pioneered the use of behavioral techniques to socialize and integrate homosex- uals into the gay community.

Before entering medicine, Serber was recog- nized as a virtuoso violinist. He trained in music at the Julliard and Curtis Schools of Music and eventually became concert master of the National Symphony, The American Ballet Theatre and the National Gallery Orchestra. He obtained his medical education at Howard University and his psychiatric training at Stanford. He served in the Public Health Service from 1963-69 and was on the faculty at Temple University before moving to Atascadero State Hospital. He re- ceived training in Reichian analysis which

spawned his special interest in “feeling” be- haviors. An early exposure to behavior therapy led to his excellent work in systematizing and training the components of self-assertion- body position, gestures, eye contact, facial expression, and voice tone and volume.

Serber was a central figure in exposing unethical and illegal practices at Atascadero State Hospital in California. His charges received national attention through the syndi- cated columnist, Nicholas Von Hoffman and led to an official state investigation that substan- tiated his allegations. This culminated in a major reorganization of the hospital. On be- coming Clinical Director at Atascadero he developed a major laboratory for the production of educational films for individuals with sexual and social deficits. He continued to promote an active concern for the ethical issues involved in mental health treatment through his writings and lectures.

Those who knew Michael Serber, even briefly through one of his imaginative and exciting lectures or workshops, will always re- member him as a direct, honest, and incisive person. Some were offended by his wry views of the status qzro-especially in mental health. For most of us his views were refreshing. We will remember Mike as an idealistic, warm human being who tirelessly crusaded for more effective and humane treatment of the mentally ill.

PETER HOUTS

ROBERT PAUL LIBERMAN

117