Sheldon Grebstein

Sheldon N. Grebstein, 90, of Davidson, NC, formerly of Wakefield, RI, passed away peacefully of natural causes on Friday, October 26th at Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Born February 1st, 1928 in Providence, RI he was the son of the late Sigmund and Sylvia Grebstein.

Sheldon was preceded in death by his first wife, Phyllis (Strumar) Grebstein, and youngest son, Gary Grebstein, and second wife, Gloria Rosen. He is survived by his eldest son Jason Grebstein (Marci) of Davidson, NC, and their children Alex and Jenna Grebstein, his brother Lawrence Grebstein (Ellen) of Kingston, Rhode Island and their children Laurie Brenner (Kyle), Ari Grebstein and granddaughter, Lily.

Sheldon was a noted scholar, teacher and author. After graduating magna cum laude from Hope High School in Providence he went on to earn a Bachelor cum laude, University of Southern California, Master of Arts, Columbia University, and Doctor of Philosophy, Michigan State University.

Dr. Grebstein was a University Professor Emeritus of Literature and literary critic who specialized in 20th-century American literature, with published books on literary criticism, Sinclair Lewis, John O’Hara, and Ernest Hemingway with numerous essays and reviews to his credit. He served as president of SUNY Purchase College from 1981 to 1993. Before coming to Purchase, he taught at the University of Southern Florida and SUNY Binghamton, where he served as Dean of Arts and Sciences from 1975 to 1981. 

In 1994, Sheldon Grebstein joined the Westchester, NY Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center as education director. During this second career, he worked with teachers on how to use lessons of the Holocaust and other genocides in their classrooms. Over 1,000 teachers received training from the center during his tenure. He was honored by the center in October 2006 upon his retirement as co-director of education.

Sheldon was a sweet, loving, modest man who treated everyone he met with dignity and respect. He enjoyed the simple things in life. He was a sports fan, avid reader and loved chocolate milk shakes and good home cooking. Sheldon was a man of integrity and believed in honesty and hard work.  He had an unbridled optimism and enthusiasm which helped him survive life’s adversities. His deep affection for his family and close friends never wavered along with his curiosity for intellectual pursuits. Sheldon was loved by everyone who knew him and will never be forgotten.

Services were privately held by his family. His final resting place is at Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, NY.

Memorial donations may be made to either the Phyllis and Gary Grebstein Memorial Fund in the Visual Arts at Manhattanville College in Purchase, NY at www.mville.edu/donate or the Parkinson Foundation at www.parkinson.org.