Search by Name

Add a Memory

Send Flowers

Make a Donation

Share Obituary

Robert M. Stein

About

Columbia University Hofstra University

FUNERAL HOME

Plaza Jewish Community Chapel

630 Amsterdam Avenue

New York, New York

Robert Stein Obituary

1943 - 2015
STEIN, Robert M. died April 24, 2015, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. He leaves his beloved wife Marilyn and daughter Emma as well as many devoted friends.
A distinguished scholar of medieval literature, Stein taught for many years at Purchase College, SUNY, and Columbia University, retiring in 2012. He earned his B.A. at Hofstra University and his M.A. and Ph.D. at Columbia. He was the author of Reality Fictions, a study of medieval narrative, and numerous essays and reviews. A memorial service to celebrate his life will take place Sunday, May 3, at 2 p.m. in the Plaza Jewish Community Chapel, 630 Amsterdam Avenue in Manhattan. The family will receive visitors April 26-28 and May 1-4, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. 875 West End Avenue, #8G, Manhattan.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by New York Times from Apr. 27 to Apr. 28, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
for Robert Stein

Sponsored by Marilyn and Emma Stein, with love.

19 Entries

Havelock Hewes

October 19, 2022

Thinking of Bob today...so many times he was my entry way into literature and how literature could inform my life. One big idea he so casually presented me with is two kinds of love...Cupititas - loving someone/something for what they give us and caritas - loving someone/something for who they are. I did get to, many years after I was his student in a chance meeting on a Manhattan street, tell Bob that this understanding still informs my choices.

Judy Levinton

November 13, 2018

I was one of Bob's students at SUNY Purchase, 1979-1983. He was kind and brilliant and while this is very late, I want to say how sorry I am for your loss.

Jackie

October 8, 2018

Belated condolences to the family of Bob Stein. He was my professor at Purchase. I've never forgotten him. I remember he had us type up reports with huge margins...he was brilliant, inspirational and funny ....and a wonderful human being.

Laura Cameron

May 2, 2018

Another very belated message of condolence to the family and close friends of Bob Stein. He was the guiding light of an early (1978) group of Culture & Society medievalists at Purchase. My marked up copies of Chaucer and Gawain are still on my shelves. I often wonder what he made of the double-act my friend Stacey and I put on in his office when demonstrating our required memorization of the first 20 lines of the Canterbury Tales... (Did you know you can sing it to "April Showers"?) And he blessed our first medieval Christmas feast with a stirring rendition, standing on a chair, of "Bring us in good ale." Unforgettable professor, unforgettable man. Bless you for having shared him with us.

Hugh Hochman

September 20, 2017

I am deeply saddened to learn of Bob's passing. He was my professor for two semesters at Columbia in 1988-89 in one of the most memorable courses (thanks to Bob's intellect and pedagogy), that I ever took. He was a model for me, and as a literature professor, I often experience the exquisite influence of memories of Bob teaching, talking, reading. Some of his remarks echo with perfect clarity in my mind. I hadn't seen Bob since 2005, and this morning I sat down to write to him, to say "hello" and tell him how often I think of him, and how he was exemplary for me in my professional life. In looking up his current email, I discovered he had passed. I send my most heartfelt sympathy to his family. He was a special man, a man of great intelligence and kindness, an uncommonly thoughtful and generous teacher and friend. I will always think of Bob.

Christopher DeRosa

August 8, 2017

My condolences to the Stein family. Professor Stein touched my life in 2011 when I attended his class on the Divine Comedy. I am coming to know of his passing now because I wanted to reach out and ask him questions about the lessons he taught me during that class. He has impacted my life and will not be forgotten.

Alexis Kiriazides

December 27, 2016

I was a student of Rober Stein at Suny Purchase. It was 1987 I believe. He was so inspiring to me. I was just recalling him to a friend of mine, on how generous he was with his time and how amazingly intelligent he was. He breathed passion into his studies. And when he talked about a concept it came alive with seething clarity and definition. I can still recall his specific ideas to this day and this was almost 30 years ago.
He is remembered.

Melanie Brazzell

March 5, 2016

To the Stein Family,

This is a belated message, as I just now learned of Bob's passing accidentally. I will be passing through New York and wanted to look him up again after all these years. What an incredible teacher and mentor he was to me and to so many others at Columbia. I remember my first literature class with him, where me and fellow students were so exhilarated by his teaching that we spontaneously came together to write a letter to the English Department to encourage them to give Bob more courses. Probably selfishly, we just wanted more of this man's time and energy, and wanted to make sure the institution knew it. We liked to joke that with his style, he looked like Foucault. And he made so many of those difficult classics of theory (including Foucault) accessible and alive to us through his charismatic and committed way of teaching. Myself a teacher now for 8 years, I draw on those memories in my own classroom.

Bob also took the time outside of class to be a mentor and supporter of my own academic path. This is a role that is rarely fulfilled anymore in an increasingly neoliberal institutional culture, but Bob continued to believe in the importance of being a public intellectual and engaging with his students as fellow citizens and people with whole lives, not customers or consumers. I remember him inviting me once to see his daughter's dance performance, and treasured that rare chance to be invited to be a part of a mentor's life in any way. Bob knew how important teaching was to the life of the mind, and I'll always remember what he told me when we were out at lunch a few years ago that choosing your academic path also means thinking about who you want to teach. He was very committed to both the Columbia and Purchase communities, to teaching in both elite and public universities.

I am so sorry to hear of his passing and feel that the Columbia community and Upper West Side community and beyond have lost someone very treasured. I too am very saddened by this loss, as I had been so excited to tell him about my Master's research and my next steps in this crazy field, hear his advice and ask him about life as an emeritus intellectual. I know he would have been a great and curious listener, as always. So unusual for his age. Thank you and we'll miss you.

Jennifer Wade

February 21, 2016

This message to Bob's family is extremely belated, as I just recently learned of his premature death. I'm so sorry. Bob was profoundly influential in helping form me as a serious student way back when we didn't receive grades. (Class of '81) To this day I recall key points from his fascinating Milton, Chaucer, Spenser, and medieval survey classes which I attended eagerly. The key points which he imparted are with me still, enabling me to make broad connections with many topics. On one of my narrative evaluations he encouraged me to read deeply and widely, wherever my interests led. This I've tried to do. Thank you, Bob! I can still picture you in your jeans and black boots. RIP.

Jamie B.D. Kenney

November 13, 2015

I would like to extend my condolences to Bob's loved ones: I only recently learned of his passing. I was a student of his at Purchase in the early 2000s and he had a profound and positive impact on me. I took his courses every semester. He was a wonderful professor, deeply committed to encouraging and challenging young scholars. He also had absolutely no tolerance for slackers, which was fabulous. Above and beyond all this, he was a glowing soul and a good man. 10 years since graduation I think of him often and fondly.

September 7, 2015

All my belated condolences to Marilyn and Emma Stein on the death of their husband and father. Bob was a wonderful neighbor and dedicated teacher, plus a big help to me when I once went on a trip to Paris. He will be greatly missed. Nancy Wight

Loretta Marvel

May 6, 2015

Bob was a wonderful teacher and I still remember how he practically dragged me through a semester of Latin, never giving up on me. May he rest in peace.

Arthur Mayer

May 4, 2015

I am so sorry to learn of Bob Stein's passing. I studied with him at SUNY Purchase and he was one of my favorite professors. He left a legacy through his teaching and mentoring. My condolences to his family.

elana

May 3, 2015

I was a student of Bob's at SUNY Purchase from 1978-80. Bob was a wonderful teacher, who opened my eyes to medieval literature. He took time to work with me on developing my writing skills. He was warm ,patient and kind.
I am sorry to hear of his passing.

Elisabeth Iler

May 1, 2015

Dear Marilyn and Emma,

Kama and I send you our deepest condolences.

Liz and Kama

CRAIG

April 30, 2015

May he R.I.P and may God bless and comfort love ones

April 28, 2015

I am so sorry for the family's loss. May the God of all comfort give you peace through prayer during this difficult time. Philipians 4:6,7

Nancy Press

April 27, 2015

Marvin and I are so sorry for your loss, Marilyn. We hope the wealth of memories of. Long marriage will bring comfort.

April 27, 2015