Dr. Bruce Michael Hyman

Dr. Bruce Michael Hyman passed away in peace December 12, 2015 after an eight year struggle with cancer which he faced with bravery and optimism. His last days were filled with friends and family members and lots of love and music.

Bruce was born in New York in 1951 to Dr. and Mrs. Louis Hyman, the second of four children. He started playing piano at 7 and progressed to local recitals as a teenager. After graduating from Elmont Memorial High School in 1968, he attended SUNY Buffalo where he took up the electric bass and played in a band that later evolved into Spyro Gyra. Bruce attended Florida State University and received a master's degree in Music/Music Therapy and Social Work. He also played bass with the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra. In 1973, he earned a Ph.D. in Counseling and Human Services from FSU and he moved to South Florida where he started a private practice. Simultaneously, Bruce performed as professional musician with the Ice Capades, the circus, several Broadway road shows, in retirement communities and on several cruise ships.

In 1987, Bruce became interested in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and became an impassioned and masterful practitioner of exposure and response prevention treatment behavioral therapy. He spoke and wrote on behalf of the International OCD Foundation and co-authored several self- help books including the best-selling The OCD Workbook: Your Guide to Breaking Free from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder which sold more than 100,000 copies worldwide. He also appeared on several television shows including 20/20, Montel Williams and MTV's True Life.

In 1992, he founded the OCD Resource Center and treated thousands of patients from all over the United States and throughout the world, as well as started a weekly support group for those with OCD.

Bruce fell in love with the concert double bass and he joined the Broward Symphony Orchestra in 1985 and became principal bassist. He lugged his big beautiful instrument to many rehearsals and concerts. Music was his purest joy and ensemble playing particularly. He loved performing with his long time orchestra mates who became his lifelong friends.

In his final days he was comforted by his friends, family, music, and the songs and prayers of Judaism, as he died on the seventh night of Hanukkah.

He is survived by his sister Lanie Shapiro, brother in law Robert, brothers Paul Young-Hyman and Bill Hyman, devoted sister-in-law Susan Hyman, his fiancée Laura Iacob, several loving nieces and nephews, adoring cousins, admired colleagues, wonderful friends, grateful patients and his dog Gilligan. A celebration of his life will take place on Sunday, January 31 at 1:00 at Bailey Concert Hall at Broward College, 3501 Davie Road, Davie, FL 33314. Please RSVP by emailing [email protected], or clicking on the link below. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to either the International OCD Foundation (www.iocdf.org) or the New River Orchestra (www.newriverorchestra.org).

Link to tribute:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-life-celebration-tribute-for-bruce-hyman-tickets-20788459843

Here is a list of Bruce's many accomplishments:

As a child, Bruce was a gifted piano player and performed piano recitals in concerts and on the radio

Elmont Memorial High School, 1968

• Captain, Tennis Team

• Key Club

• Appeared in the play, "The Crucible"

1973: Graduated SUNY Buffalo, BA: Psychology and Music

1973: Played electric bass in the early days of the band, Spyro Gyra, whom he met while a student at SUNY Buffalo

1974 - 1975: Camp Counselor at Brevard Music Center in Brevard, NC. Was Keith Lockhart's (Conductor of the Boston Pops) camp counselor

1975: Florida State University: Master in Music/Music Therapy

1977: Florida State University: Master of Social Work

1981: Started private practice

1982 - 1983: Played bass for the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra

1983: Florida State University: Ph.D., Counseling and Human Services

1985: Joined the Broward Symphony Orchestra as principal bassist.

1987: Participated in further study and mastery of OCD and exposure and response prevention treatment at the Medical College of Pennsylvania Anxiety Disorders Clinic

1989 - 1992: Adjunct faculty member of Florida International University Graduate School of Social Work in Miami

1992: Opened the Obsessive Compulsive Resource Center of South Florida

1999: Co-authored with Cherry Pedrick, RN, The OCD Workbook: Your Guide to Breaking Free from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder which sold more than 100,000 copies worldwide.

2005 - Published the second edition of The OCD Workbook"

Other:

Faculty member for PESI HealthCare — an international continuing education company that presents workshops on anxiety disorders and OCD for health professionals throughout the USA

Served on the scientific advisory board of the International OCD Foundation.

Other titles from Bruce Hyman and Cherry Pedrick:

• "Anxiety Disorders"

• "Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder" (awarded one of 2004 Outstanding Science Trade Books by the Children's Book Council and National Science Teachers Association committee. In addition, it was chosen by the New York Public Library to be included in its annual "2004 Books for the Teen Age.")

National TV Appearances:

ABC's 20/20 (November 1996/November 1999

The John Bradshaw Difference

The Montel Williams Show

MTV's "True Life" (December 2005)