Dr. Aronfreed, Psychology

Dr. Justin M. Aronfreed, professor emeritus of psychology in the University of Pennsylvnia’s School of Arts & Sciences, passed away August 18 at age 82.

A member of the faculty for over 50 years, Dr. Aronfreed was appointed in 1959 as an assistant professor, rising through the ranks to professor until his retirement as emeritus professor in 1999.

Prior to coming to Penn, Dr. Aronfreed was an instructor and research associate at the Institute of Human Relations at Yale University and then a senior research fellow at Eastern Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute.

His book, Conduct and Conscience, published in 1968, was termed “one of the most exciting social psychological works of the decade” in the American Sociological Review. A landmark work, it addressed with “scientific precision and rigor” deep questions concerning the development of the psychological mechanisms that account for character, and that explain empathy and altruism.

Dr. Aronfreed was the recipient of numerous awards including one from the National Science Foundation for research on the moral development and the development of conscience in children. His students voted him as “the most popular teacher” for his freshman seminar on human development and intellectual foundations. For many decades, Dr. Aronfreed was the principal teacher at Penn of the fundamental introductory course in developmental psychology. He also had a profound influence on graduate students in Developmental Psychology, many of whom have gone on to become the leaders in this field.

His many professional activities included the American Psychological Association, the Eastern Psychological Association, the Society for the Study of Psychological Issues, the Society for Research and Child Development, the American Association of University Professors, the National Society for the Study of Education and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Born in Philadelphia, Dr. Aronfreed received his AB in psychology from Penn in 1951 and his PhD in 1956 from the University of Michigan.

He is survived by his wife, Cecilia; his children, Leslie Martin, Dr. Jessica Aronfreed, Eric Aronfreed, Karen Bompadre, Andrea Finamore and Joan Roseberry; and grandchildren, Roland Sealy, James Bompadre, Amanda Bompadre, Kate Roseberry and Owen Roseberry.

A memorial service will be held Sunday, September 30 at the Conservatory at West Laurel Hill Cemetery, from 1-3 p.m.

Ms. Huntington, New Bolton Center

Evelyn B. Huntington, a retired office administrator at Penn’s New Bolton Center (NBC) in Kennett Square, passed away July 12; she was 90.

Born in White Plains, New York, Ms. Huntington was at NBC for 25 years before retiring in 1992. In retirement, she volunteered regularly, selling NBC apparel in the lobby for another 20 years.

Prior to coming to Penn, she worked for Gold Crest Chemical in Mendenhall, PA.

Ms. Huntington is survived by her sons, Dennis C., Wayne T. and Gary L.; a daughter, Nancy A. Potts, a staff member in the Widener Hospital at New Bolton Center; a sister, Nancy Beyers; 10 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Contributions in her memory may be made to either St. Gabriel Catholic Church, PO Box 709, Avondale, PA 19311 or to New Bolton Center, 382 W. Street Road, Kennett Square, PA 19348.

Memorial: Dr. Leboy

A memorial service for Dr. Phoebe Leboy, professor emeritus of biochemistry in the School of Dental Medicine, will be held October 19 at Claire Fagin Hall, 3:45 p.m. She died on June 16 at the age of 75 (Almanac July 17, 2012).

Dr. Schussheim, Penn Design

Dr. Morton J. Schussheim, former professor of city planning at the University of Pennsylvania from 1966 to 1975, passed away August 20; he was 87.

Until 1993, Dr. Morton J. Schussheim had been a senior specialist on housing for the Congressional Research Service, which provides policy and legal analysis to committees and members of both the House and Senate. Previously, he was an assistant public policy administrator for the Federal Housing and Home Finance Agency. He also served in World War II.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Dr. Schussheim was a 1947 graduate of what is now Case Western Reserve University. He received a master’s degree in public administration in 1949 and a doctorate in economics in 1952, both from Harvard University.

Dr. Schussheim is predeceased by his first wife, Hanna Levine. His is survived by his wife, Anne “Bunty” Ketcham; children, Elizabeth S. Brater, Rowen Schussheim-Anderson, Amy L. Schussheim and Charles H. Schussheim; a sister; and five grandchildren.

Mr. Tanenbaum, Emeritus Trustee

Emeritus Trustee Myles H. Tanenbaum (W’52, L’57) passed away August 31 at age 82.

Mr. Tanenbaum joined the University of Pennsylvania Board of Trustees in 1988 and over his many decades of involvement chaired the Facilities and Campus Planning Committee and was a member of the Development Committee and the Investment Board. In leading the Facilities and Campus Planning Committee, Mr. Tanenbaum helped lay the foundation for the eastward expansion.

In addition to his service as a Trustee, Mr. Tanenbaum was a member of the Athletic Advisory Board, an emeritus member of the Board of Overseers of the Law School, a reunion volunteer for the Penn Law Class of 1957, and a frequent guest lecturer at the Wharton School. He also showed dedication to Penn’s health care enterprise in the 1990s and early 2000s, serving as chair of the Board of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, vice chair of the Trustee Board of the Medical Center, chair of the Presbyterian Hospital Board, and a member of the Surgery Leadership Council. For his extraordinary commitment to Penn, he received the University’s Alumni Award of Merit, Wharton’s Man of the Year Award, the Law School’s Distinguished Service Award and Athletics’ H. Hunter Lott, Jr. Award.

Mr. Tanenbaum supported with particular generosity the Law School, the Perelman School of Medicine, the School of Social Policy & Practice, Athletics, and the Wharton School, where he helped found the Zell/Lurie Real Estate Center. He was also very active in two major capital campaigns for the Law School. In the early 1990s, as chair of the Campaign for Penn Law, his contribution made possible the construction of Nicole E. Tanenbaum Hall in memory of his daughter, Nicole, the first major addition to the Law School in 30 years (Almanac October 5, 1993). During the Law School’s most recent Bold Ambitions campaign, he served on its Executive and Steering committees and provided significant support for the replacement of Pepper Hall. 
He served as a lieutenant in the US Air Force from 1952 to 1954. He then returned to Penn as a law student, working as editor of the Law Review and being elected to the Order of the Coif.  

Mr. Tanenbaum’s career spanned law, real estate development and professional sports. Early in his career, he was a partner and tax attorney in the law firm of Wolf, Block, Schorr and Solis-Cohen. He was also co-owner and executive vice president of Kravco, Inc., one of the nation’s largest shopping mall developers. With Kravco he helped transform the landscape of the Delaware Valley by building 10 million square feet of shopping malls, including the landmark King of Prussia Mall. From 1983 to 1985, he owned the Philadelphia (later Baltimore) Stars, who were the champions of the US Football League in two of those three years. 

Mr. Tanenbaum is survived by his children, Steven, Sharon and Lawrence (C’89, WG’96); and grandchildren, Eva Jeanne, Jack, Eli, Jesse, Jordan, Reid and Sloane.

Donations in his memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org