Dear Members of the TC Community,

With great sadness, I am writing to share that Elizabeth Midlarsky, former Professor of Psychology and Education, passed away on January 4, 2023. Professor Midlarsky joined Teachers College in 1990 as part of the faculty of the Ph.D. Program in the Department of Counseling and Clinical Psychology. She was instrumental in launching the department’s M.A. Program and served as the Program Coordinator from 1998-2011. She also co-chaired the department from 2006-2009.

Professor Midlarsky received her Ph.D. from Northwestern University. Her clinical training was in both psychodynamic and social learning approaches across the lifespan and in individuals, families and groups. Her research interests included altruism through the lifespan, gender and racial differences in mental health help-seeking, eating disorders, gender roles, and helping behavior as a means for coping with stress. In recent years, her work focused on the mental health consequences of helping during the Holocaust, as well as the mental health sequelae of older adults and families struggling with illness or disability. Over decades at TC, she generously shared her time and counsel with students and colleagues, many of whom became lifelong friends. She will be sorely missed.

For those who would like to and are able to attend, Professor Midlarsky’s funeral will take place at 12:00 p.m tomorrow, January 6, at East Brunswick Jewish Center, 511 Ryders Lane, East Brunswick, NJ with interment to follow at Beth Abraham Cemetery, also in East Brunswick. You may also read her full obituary and leave remembrances here.

Sincerely,

William J. Baldwin
Interim Provost and Dean