Confronting loss

Dr. Peter A. Lichtenberg was widowed twice before age 55, two-heartbreaking losses that defined his character and defied the odds. He's is a Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilition at Wayne State and director of WSU, Institute of Gerontology 

Peter is the author of seven books and has authored or co-authored more than 160 peer reviewed journal articles on research topics such as mental health in long-term care, geriatric depression, and the early detection and management of Alzheimer's disease. Grief and Healing: Against the Odds is Peter's first autobiographical book. The process of reflecting on his losses and putting those reflections and feelings into words was a major step forward in his journey toward healing.

Grief and Healing paperback available for purchase.

Visit Grief and Healing: BLOG HERE   

To schedule a speaking engagement, contact Cheryl Deep at: cheryldeep@wayne.edu or (313) 664-2607 

Peter's reflections on grief and healing are both unique to his situation and universal to those who have experienced intense loss. His hour-long presentation brings honesty and inspiration to anyone who has known the sting of grief.

Praise for the book "Grief and Healing"

"THANK YOU! I enjoyed getting to know you through this article. I lost the love of my life, business partner, best friend, lover and husband on New Year's Eve suddenly to the widow maker. We were married only 11 years. I am only 47 and my world has been turned up-side down. You know how the story goes from here- thank you for having the insight and courage to write this loving story. It makes a difference to those of us who are searching for even the slightest hope. Blessings to you and your family."

DML, Dallas, Texas

"Your honesty and vulnerability sensitively unraveled threads of intimate highs and lows of various past relationships. Like many others who will read your story, I not only discovered layers of you that I didn't know, I was also reminded of similar layers of myself."
Frances Shani Parker
Eldercare consultant, author, hospice volunteer, Detroit, MI

"The connections you had with both of your wives is so special. I love how much detail you included, not only from your relationships with Becky and Susan, but also your psychological/emotional reactions to their deaths. In my experience, it is really rare for someone to speak so candidly about the dark and sad feelings one has after losing a spouse."

Brooke Viertel, Ph.D.
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany

"I was on the phone with a friend for several hours late last night who has suffered great personal losses in the last three years. Your personal story and your lessons shared will help people like her. I've always known that you are a smart man, who has accomplished so many great things, but what you've shared with the world in this article is something that is profoundly inspiring and life changing."
Tina Abbate Marzolf, CEO
Area Agency on Aging 1-B, Southfield, MI

"I've just finished reading your essay, and I need only one word to describe it WONDERFUL! Thank you for sharing this with me (and others). For me it speaks to the power of love and of the strength it can engender."
Robert J. Sokol, MD
Emeritus Dean, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI

"Your story is so powerful. Thank you for sharing this."
Pam Feinberg-Rivkin, RN
Founder & CEO, Feinberg Consulting, W. Bloomfield, MI

"Thank you for sharing this with readers. You are generous with your words, thoughts, and feelings. I am thankful that I was able to read this and will remember this as a means of dealing with grief in my life past, and in the future."
Laura Ingram, Open to Hope reader