Andrew Schreiber's Obituary
Dr. Andrew Schreiber, creator of Special Education, Dies Dr. Andrew Schreiber, creator of the pilot program for Special Education in the United States, died November 28 of an infection related to age at Kaiser Hospital in Redwood City, California at the age of 93. Dr. Schreiber was born August 1, 1918 in Budapest, Hungary to Alexander Samuel and Bella (Gruen). His father, a wine merchant, became a rabbi in order to emigrate to the United States in 1930 to avoid the anti-Semitism of the nationalist Arrow Cross movement. The youngest of seven children, Schreiber eventually mastered not only English but German, French, Latin, Yiddish and Hebrew. Prior to his career in education, his own studies included his B.A. from College of the City of New York in 1941, M.S. from the University of City of New York, 1943, postgraduate work at Columbia University in 1950-52 and his Ph.D. in Education from Heed University, Hollywood, Florida in 1972, where he also served as a doctoral adviser. He served his later years as a psychotherapist, including family, child, sexual dysfunction and hypnotherapy. His eclectic work experience included production foreman at Hydrawmatic Machine Co., New York City, sales manager, Master Carbide, Stony Point, NY, marketing director, Gulton Industries, Metuchen, New Jersey and activities director of the Pride of Judea Children's Home in Brooklyn. As a young man, he was awarded a scholarship to the prestigious Art Students League in New York City, which enabled him to study with guest lecturers such as George Grosz and Thomas Hart Benton. Schreiber's creation of the pilot program for the Educationally Handicapped (E.H.) at Capuchino High School in San Bruno, CA in 1966 made a distinction for the first time in public secondary schools between students with retardation or organic brain dysfunction and those who merely suffered from short attention span, dyslexia or emotional problems. In 1968, he became chairman of the department of Special Education at Capuchino. Schreiber married Mona Rubin in 1950 and their civic involvement in the development of Foster City, CA included his role as first president of the Foster City Art League and her creation of the still extant Foster City Writers Contest. Schreiber is survived by his daughter Julie, a teacher of Special Education kindergarten children and Robin, a technical recruiter for IT staffing, both of San Mateo, and Brad, an author, screenwriter and producer, of Studio City. Schreiber contributed financially to his son's founding of the Mona Schreiber Prize for Humorous Fiction and Nonfiction in 2000, influenced by his late wife's teaching of writing in San Mateo County, as well as her magazine and newspaper work. Contributions to the Mona Schreiber Prize may be made to 3940 Laurel Canyon Blvd. #566, Studio City, CA 91604. A private ceremony will be held at Skylawn Memorial Park, Half Moon Bay.
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