Eric Day Werthman passed away in Maine on Saturday, Sept. 10th, 2022 at the age of 81. He was in the presence of his wife and partner of 54 years, Polly Howells. In addition to Polly, he is survived by two sons, Nick and Jesse, their wives Audrey Wallace and Alessandra De Almeida, and four granddaughters: Elinor, Alice, Emilia and Pina. For 50 years he was a fixture for many in the community of Park Slope, Brooklyn, and for the last 18 years he and Polly developed a deep connection with friends and neighbors in the mid-Hudson Valley.
During the course of a well-lived life, Eric was a Gestalt Psychotherapist for 38 years, produced and directed two feature films — Going Under (2004) and The Drummer (2020) — and was a life-long activist for political causes in which he deeply believed. He sat in at a lunch counter in Kingston NY when he was a student at Bard in the late 1950’s. He went to Mississippi in Freedom Summer, 1964, to register voters. He marched against the Vietnam War, for abortion rights, and against fracking, in addition to many other causes. In recent years as a member of Woodstock Transition he was involved in expanding local access to solar power and developing an innovative project to install community heat pumps in the village.
Above all, though, Eric was a loving husband, a dedicated father, and a fun and energetic grandfather. His varied intellectual, artistic, and political pursuits continue to be an inspiration to his friends and family, and his family was the foundation for the rich and varied life he lived. He made connections wherever he went and touched all those he met. He will be missed by all who knew him.
There will be a Memorial Service at the New York Society for Ethical Culture, 2 W. 64th Street Manhattan on October 9 at 2:00. Donations in Eric’s name can be sent to movementvoterproject.org.
From: Hudson Valley 1
ERIC WERTHMAN OBITUARY
WERTHMAN – Eric Day, passed away in Maine on Saturday, September 10th, 2022 at the age of 81. He was in the presence of his wife and partner of 54 years, Polly Howells. In addition to Polly, he is survived by two sons, Nick and Jesse, their wives – Audrey Wallace and Alessandra De Almeida – and four granddaughters – Elinor, Alice, Emilia and Pina.
A Gestalt psychotherapist, filmmaker and activist, for fifty years he was a fixture in the community of Park Slope, Brooklyn. For the last eighteen years he and Polly developed a deep connection with friends and neighbors in the Mid-Hudson Valley. His varied intellectual, artistic and political pursuits continue to be an inspiration to his friends and family. Above all, Eric was a loving husband, a dedicated father and a fun, energetic grandfather. He will be missed by all who knew him. Memorial Service will be held at New York Society for Ethical Culture, 2 West 64 St, October 9 at 2:00pm.
Published by New York Times on Sep. 30, 2022.
In Memoriam – Eric Werthman
From The New York Institute for Gestalt Therapy:
It is with profound sadness we write that Eric Werthman, a longtime member of the NYIGT, psychotherapist, political activist, filmmaker, friend, husband, father and grandfather, died on September 10th at his Maine home. Eric was drawn to Gestalt therapy from his involvement in the radical politics of the 1960’s and early 70’s. He studied with Laura Perls, Isadore From and Richard Kitzler. He was an active and central member of the institute for many years. As chair of the program committee, his leadership helped the institute explore and develop gestalt therapy. He brought his knowledge of literature, jazz, and film as well as his political activism to our community. Eric widened our sense of what it can be to be a Gestalt therapist. Eric, along with his wife, Polly, continued to be community activists in the Hudson Valley with a focus on sustainable energy and climate awareness. Eric was loved by all who knew him. Take some time and follow these links to video interviews of Eric talking about Gestalt Therapy and his work with Laura Perls. Eric will be missed. He cannot be forgotten.
Links from Humans of Gestalt:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWfc9peeGwM
Eric talking about Laura Perls:
Links of interest:
Eric’s Memorial Service at the New York Society for Ethical Culture, October 9, 2022
Eric’s Interviews on The Humans of Gestalt