Robert Gutterman

Robert was born on March 29, 1952, in Flint, Michigan, the second of two children, to David Daniel and Winnifred Selma. As a boy, he enjoyed music and the arts, particularly classical and opera. Bob completed his undergraduate work at the University of Michigan and graduated with honors in 1974. As an undergraduate, he took Phi Beta Kappa majoring in two different areas: Music and Near Eastern Studies.

Bob studied medicine at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and completed his post-graduate medical training at the Presbyterian Hospital of the Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco (now called CPMC). He was an intern from 1983-84 and a Resident from 1984-87. Bob was the Chief Resident in Psychiatry from 1986-87. It was during those years as Chief Resident that Bob opened his private practice, which focused on offering supportive, insight-based psychotherapy for gay men during some of the most difficult early years of the AIDS crisis. For over 30 years, Bob was the Medical Director at The Gladman Mental Health Rehabilitation Center in Oakland; he retired in 2019.

Bob was a lover of animals and devoted pet parent. He supported a wide range of animal welfare organizations throughout his life. He was also a foodie and virtuoso cook, with hundreds of cookbooks to his name. He enjoyed extensive travel during his life, but after retiring felt more at home exploring the beautiful coasts of his adopted home state California.

In January 2024, after an unexpected seizure, Bob was diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme, an aggressive type of brain cancer. He fought a good fight, but in early October he entered hospice care and passed peacefully at his home of several decades in Mill Valley, CA. He is survived by his loving husband, Steven Davis, older brother, Les Gutterman and nieces, Elizabeth and Rebecca Gutterman. He was predeceased by his parents, as well as his first husband, Paul Cohen and former partner, Bruce McCrae.