Richard M Bennett

Richard Bennett Obituary

1944 - 2017
Bennett, Dr. Richard M., age 73, passed away on April 24, 2017 in New York, NY. He was born in New York City on February 15, 1944 to Bernard and Muriel (Bennett) Spero. Richard attended Lehigh University where he received a B.A. in Psychology and later earned an M.S. and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Rutgers University. In 1979 he earned a certification in Psychoanalysis from the William Alanson White Institute, where he became a supervisor of graduate students. He was married for 29 years to Dr. Janice (Drandell) Bennett, and together they have three children. At a young age of 22 he was part of the research staff of the Hudson Institute where he gained Top Secret Clearance. He went on to serve on the professional staff of several organizations including the Sephardic Home of the Aged and The Kateri Residence in New York City. Dr. Bennett opened a successful private psychotherapy practice in 1973 where his wife joined him in 1991, founding Supportive Psychological Services PC. In 1999 Dr. Bennett joined the Later Lifespan Development Center at the William Alanson White Institute, taking over as Director in 2013. He was an active member of many professional organizations such as the New York Society of Clinical Psychologists, and was a Diplomate of the American Board of Professional Psychology. Richard was an active member of the Upper West Side Jewish Community. He loved to travel, bike, hike, enjoying nature and being with his family. Richard is survived by his loving and devoted family: his mother, Muriel, his wife, Janice, his children Leah (Yaakov Weiner), Meira and Baruch Zev; grandchildren Shoshana and Yisrael Yosef Weiner. Please send donations to: Mesivta Ohavei Torah 450 West 250th Street Riverdale NY 10471 or to The Nature Conservancy.

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Published by New York Times from May 10 to May 11, 2017.

Memories and Condolences
for Richard Bennett

8 Entries

Chaya Miriam Weisman

May 4, 2025

Great memories of Shabbos dinners and kindness. You are missed.

Chaya Miriam Weisman

September 25, 2017

I am so very sorry your family and the community lost such a kind, loving, gentle man. My love and prayers to you, Janice, and your family.

S B

May 15, 2017

I am so sorry for the family's loss. May you find comfort through prayer and God's loving promise found at John 6:40.

Kara Palley

May 15, 2017

We wish we had known him longer but so enjoyed the time we did have.

Frances Gozland

May 14, 2017

My earliest memories of Richard were way back when I was single and frequented Janice and Richard's Shabbos table on the Upper West Side. I always found Richard so hospitable, refined, articulate and truly an Ish Emet.

Years later, our family spent time with the Bennetts for a Shabbos in Tannersville and as Richard fondly chased is little boy Zevy to keep him safe, he looked up at my husband with a glimmer in his eye and a smile on his face and said, "I had a choice, and maybe I should have gone for the Ferrari."
Richard will be sorely missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him, but his precious legacy of his Aishes Chayil, and his beautiful children and grandchildren for generations to come will leave an indelible impression for all of us to cherish.

Frances Gozland

May 14, 2017

I first met Richard 30 years ago when he was in Los Angeles to meet Janice's family before asking her to marry. Richard was Mr. Calm and Collected although he later confided that he had actually been quite nervous (but nobody could tell). Within a year Julie and I travelled back to New York for the Gordon wedding and we picked up Richard and Janice and we all got out of the car to pose (and throw armfuls of) the Fall maple leaves in Englewood, New Jersey. Over the years the Bennett home has been open to all the members of the Scholl Family in their travels to and fro Manhattan as it has been open to so many others. Richard always took an interest in my family's well-being and took an interest in each of our kids, who so often spent time in the Bennett home. Most recently Richard officiated and hosted a Sheva Berachos for our eldest daughter. Richard was a great husband to Janice and great father to his fine children. Over the years so many people have depended on Richard for guidance and direction and empathy. He gave a lot to others and fulfilled a worthy tafkid in this world. So many have depended on him and his passing leaves a void that speaks eloquently to how much he was needed and loved by those with whom he came into contact. May Richard's good traits and actions be a guidepost for us all.

Sincerely, Don and Julie Scholl

Jill Howard

May 13, 2017

I am deeply saddened by the loss of Richard. He was a kind, thoughtful and compassionate man who connected with his patients in a very real and down to earth way. They valued his wisdom but also his fundamentally kind nature. He will be deeply missed by the members of the White Institute as well as the many people he helped through the years. I, personally, will miss conversing with him about clinical matters. It is a real and painful loss and my thoughts go out to Janice and his children as well as the rest of his family and his community.
Jill Howard

May 10, 2017

My sincere condolences for the loss of your loved one. May our creator the God of Abraham sustain you through this difficult time. He keeps those who pass away in his memory because they are precious in his eyes. May you also be comforted by these words found at Psalms 116:15

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