Patricia Robin Herbst

Dr. Patricia Robin Herbst was a very accomplished Psychologist in the Chicagoland area. She also was a founding member and practitioner for the Marjorie Kovler Center for the treatment of torture survivors. Pat was born in Racine, WI on April 26 1943 and passed peacefully in her sleep on October 1, 2019. The cause of her death was Myocardial Infarcation/Coronary Heart Disease. She was the daughter of Emmanuel Marvin Kesert and Shirley Hazel Mielke. Pat was happily married to Cal J. Herbst for 28 years and is survived by daughters, Dana Frenier Woodward- (Shawn Woodward), Lisa Seebacker- (Jay Seebacker), Tami Herbst, and son Brad Robin-(Nicole Cook), with grandchildren Jessica and Landon Seebacker, and Addisen and Logan Frenier. She was a very loving person to her family, friends and business associates. Please Celebrate and Remember Patricia!

Her Life

In her early years she lived in Racine, WI with her grandparents and attended Horlick Schools where she was a Cheerleader—Her Grandfather died in her Arms.

She relocated to Evanston with her Mother and Manny Kesert.

Pat worked with her father, Manny, in his Drug Store in Chicago.

[The store was frequented by the Chicago Bears and Matty Pettibone had wanted to take her on a date. She said, “I’m not going out with any football player!”—So Pat!!]

She attended and Graduated from Evanston High School

Pat entered Pre Med at U of I in Champaign.

[She was an avid reader, picked up a Psych Book and that was it]

She graduated with a degree in Psychology

Pat met Mischa and Sonja Zaks and began her Clinical Psychology practice in Highland Park, Il with Mischa. Sonja owned an Art Gallery in Chicago. She also was great friends with the Head Rabbi from Chicago, David Graubart and his wife Eunice. Very influential people, and is another beautiful story.

Prior to this, she was instrumental in selecting Liver and Kidney transplant recipients in Chicago. Also, she was working with Inmates- along with a study that Mischa was heading. This was during the Martin Luther King riots! When she left the building there were two black gentlemen waiting for her and they escorted her safely to her car. Again, Pat was so loved!!

Pat earned her Masters Degree from the University of Illinois in Chicago

She moved to Evanston in1968, where she and her Life Long friend, FE Rosenfeld raised their collective four children, and they are indeed cousins—Brad and Dana—Pat and Sid Robin’s children, and, Allison and Jill—FE and Neil Rosenfeld’s children.

Pat was a founding member and practitioner at the Marjorie Kovler Center for the treatment of torture survivors from across the world. She was honored as one of the Top Ten Women in Chicago for that work.

Pat married Cal Herbst in 1991 and resided in Deerfield and Buffalo Grove. They are very close with their Children and four Grandchildren, other family, and many friends

Pat and Cal studied at the Japanese Garden in Botanic Gardens while Cal earned his Masters Degree and Pat her Doctoral Degree PSYD. She graduated Suma Cum Laude—again, so Pat.

Pat was a Brilliant Light and had a Brilliant Life!