Robert U. Akeret ’50 died on November 12, 2016, in New York, New York.

(The following was provided by the family:)

Robert U. Akeret of New York City, NY, passed on peacefully on November 12, 2016. Robi is survived by his four daughters, Kim, Julie, Liza, and Teal; and his four grandchildren, Molly, Nick, Will, and Sam. He was a successful psychoanalyst and author.

Born in Zurich, Switzerland in 1928, Robi immigrated to the U.S. in 1934 with his mother, Emmi Akeret. Robi received his doctorate from Columbia University and his certificate in psychoanalysis from the William Alanson White Institute, where he trained with Rollo May and Erich Fromm.

He served as a President of the Association of Psychoanalytic Psychologists. He wrote five books:  Not by Words Alone (1972), Photoanalysis (1975), Family Tales, Family Wisdom (1991), Tales from a Traveling Couch (1996), which was translated into seven languages, and Photolanguage (2000). He also appeared on several national talk shows, including The Tonight Show and The Oprah Winfrey Show, to promote his books.

Robi was a loving husband to his wife, Ann, who passed in 2013. He divided his time between his practice in NYC and summers on Lake Champlain, where he loved spending time with his family, horseback riding, sailing, and hiking. Robi had a twinkle in his eye and was always up for a new adventure. He was a people person who always had a story to tell and a curiosity about the lives of others.

Recently, he was actively involved with the artist group at the White Institute and believed that art and creativity are fundamental to powerful therapy and to an engaged and meaningful life. We miss him deeply.