Fury on Earth: A Biography of Wilhelm Reich

(Jacob Rumans) #1

10 Myron SharafFury On Earth


Umbarger.
Phil Helfaer brought his incomparable empathy and fine mind to bear on my strug-
gles, struggles that at times would have been too much for a less stalwart ally. Bob Rosenthal
had a less intense interest in “Reichian” concepts, but precisely this distance combined with
open-mindedness and strong personal involvement helped to maintain the steadiness of our
valuable friendship.
A number of other colleagues and friends gave me encouragement or friendly crit-
icism: Courtney Baker, Alvin Becker, John Bell, John Bellis, Dorothy Burlage, Judith
Chadwick, Art Efron, Susan Gulick, Eva Hartmann, Barbara Koopman, Alexander Lowen,
Greg Lombardo, Paul Mathews, Karl McLaurin, Jacob and Patricia Meyerowitz, John
Pierrakos, Roberta Reich (no relation), Philip Reimherr, Bob Risse, Meatchie Russell,
Michael Sales, Terry Santino, Gabrielle Sichel, Jean Stamps, Beth Strassberg, James Tropp,
William Tropp, Kathy Vieweg, Mary Watkins, and Colin Wilson.
Bob Risse has been the kind of friend in whom I could confide doubts and anxi-
eties I was scarcely able to acknowledge to myself.
I am grateful to several “non Reichian” colleagues I met in the 1950s at the
Massachusetts Mental Health Center, my second intellectual home. First and foremost is
Daniel J.Levinson,whose elegant sociopsychological approach to adult development in gen-
eral and career development in particular so permeates my own thing that I cannot begin to
itemize the particularities of my intellectual debt to him.
As a leader, Milton Greenblatt provided me with an example radically different
from Reich’s. He welcomed diversity of thought, a new experience after my total immersion
in Reich’s relentless pursuit of his own paradigm. His stance toward this biography fervent
support combined with informed criticism has often renewed my spirits.
Ernest Hartmann read chapters ever since 1 started the writing. Like Milton, he has
been a friendly critic of my interest in Reich’s scientific work, thereby stimulating me to hone
my arguments as sharply as I could. Ernest has also been a strong, gentle frienda friend for
all seasons.
Leston Havens and 1 have been carrying on a wide-ranging conversation for twen-
ty-five years. His always stimulating and sometimes provocative mind has clarified and
expanded my own position regarding Reich’s psychiatric work.
An old friend and collaborator, Evelyn M. Stone, has warmly encouraged my
research, writing, and speaking on Reich’s life and work.
During the research phase and the writing of the first chapters, the late Larry Schiff
was a precious friend and counselor. The world and I have been robbed by his untimely
death ofa prince ofthis earth honest,enthusiastic, perceptive, and endlessly giving.
Several persons helped in an editorial capacity. Before I met my editor, Joyce
Engelson, I thought the age of the great editors was over. I was wrong. She permitted me
to work in peace for half a decade, putting up with delays most editors would have found
intolerable.By action and word she communicated that she wanted only one thing the best,
most honest biography I was capable of writing. When I wavered from that commitment,

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