First Posted: 2/29/2012
Henri Deutsch, Ph.D., of Glenburn Township died peacefully at home February 23, after a 14-week battle with lymphoma. His wife is the former Marilyn Weisberg.
He was born on September 16, 1949 in Paris, France and grew up in Scranton. He and his wife, Marilyn, were married on May 23, 1971. He earned his Ph.D. in psychology from Ohio State University in 1975 and is a 1971 graduate of Temple University. He was a congregant at Temple Hesed in Scranton. A well-known leader on rights for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities and an expert and author on grief among people with disabilities, he served for many years as President and CEO of Keystone Community Resources in Scranton, providing residential and day programs to over 400 people with developmental disabilities in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He also worked as a clinical psychologist in private practice in partnership with his wife in Clarks Green, and has taught college courses in psychology at Marywood University, The University of Scranton, Pennsylvania State University Worthington Scranton Campus and Keystone College. He was active in the community, serving on the boards of Temple Hesed, Jewish Family Service, the Northeastern Pennsylvania Psychological Association, the Pennsylvania Association of Resources for People with Mental Retardation, and the Northeastern branch of the Pennsylvania Lupus Foundation. He served as a mental health specialist on the Red Cross Disaster Response Team. He administered the Deutsch Family Foundation, a nonprofit foundation started by his father, Ignatz Deutsch, focused on Jewish causes and providing resources for underserved people in Lackawanna County. His leisure time was filled with activity, spent on house projects at home and at his beloved cottage on Lake Idlewild, woodworking, teaching scuba diving, taking continuing education classes in trades including cabinetry and home electricity, authoring scuba instructional manuals, and enjoying the lake with his children and grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
In addition to his wife, Marilyn, he is also survived by his father, Ignatz Deutsch and wife Victoria of Scranton; brother Jacques Deutsch of Clarks Summit; son Jonathan Deutsch and wife Molly Aherne Deutsch of Brooklyn, N.Y.; son Justin Deutsch of Philadelphia; and granddaughters Emma and Alice Deutsch. He is predeceased by his mother, Simi Ackerman Deutsch. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of donor’s choice. Causes dear to Henri’s heart include environmental preservation, human rights and social services. Shiva will continue Monday, Feb. 27 through Thursday, March 1 at the home of Ignatz and Victoria Deutsch, 550 Clay Avenue, Apartment 6C, Scranton.
To send the family an online condolence , visit www.DunmoreFuneralHome.com.