The Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College mourns the loss of our dear friend and colleague, Dr. Robert Salmon, who passed away on Thursday, May 12, 2016.
Since the start of his career more than fifty years ago, Dr. Salmon has significantly shaped the practice of social work in his roles as teacher, scholar, practitioner, and mentor. His contributions to the fields of group social work and gerontology, in particular, have set standards nationally and around the world. Dr. Salmon received his MSW from the NYU School of Social Work and his doctorate from Columbia University.
Robert Salmon retired in September 2010 after spending over 40 years at the Hunter College School of Social Work, where his dedication to the school’s academic and professional community was extraordinary. Over his prolific tenure, he served with distinction as Professor, Associate Dean, and Acting Dean. He was an especially beloved teacher, who won multiple teaching awards spanning decades and was particularly focused on scholarships for students. Salmon was a true role model for Hunter social work students who knew him, and who often trace their own success to the excellence they witnessed in him.
Dr. Salmon was a deeply respected and admired colleague; because of the deep respect he accorded others. Dr. Salmon consistently sought to build relationships across, and upheld by, human difference. Most crucially to all who knew him, he cared about people – this was his most simple and most impactful way of caring about the world.
In addition to being an unparalleled social work educator, Dr. Salmon was a wonderful husband, father, and grandfather. Dr. Salmon’s passing leaves us at Silberman with great sadness, but we were all privileged to know him and to have worked with him. He made Hunter, social work, and the world a better place.