By Paul Shapiro
When Ruben became executive director of the Peninsula Counseling Center in August 1958, he had a staff of three social workers, two secretaries and an annual budget of $45,000. During his five-plus decades there, the organization has grown to become one of the pre-eminent mental health facilities on Long Island providing services to more than 4,500 individuals a year with a staff of 105 and an annual operating budget of $7.3 million.
“It’s been an unimaginable, great experience which I’ve loved, but I’m ready to pass the baton to new leadership,” Ruben said. “I think moving to a new building represented a fulfillment of a goal that had importance to me. I think that having reached that goal that it was time to step aside for other leadership to continue on.”
Ruben’s dream to house Peninsula Counseling Center’s programs under one roof came to fruition last November when the PCC moved into its new home in Valley Stream — a 25,000-square-foot three-story building that centralized its services and offered more comprehensive care to its clients.
“It’s not that I am resigning because I am moving out of town or ill health or anything like that,” Ruben explained. “I just felt that I had attained many of the things I had hoped to attain and thought it was time to let someone else continue the growth of PCC.”
That move, coupled with PCC’s recent affiliation with North Shore/LIJ Health Care System, leaves the agency in an exceptionally strong position to continue its growth and expansion of services.
“Herb has touched the lives of countless individuals for more than 50 years,” said Bruce Katz, PCC’s president of the board of directors. “He has been the lifeblood of PCC, its heart and soul.
“The result of Herb’s direction and leadership in the last few years has been one of tremendous growth for PCC. Our newest programs will continue PCC’s long-standing commitment to helping people face all of life’s matters head on,” Katz added.
Ruben, who will turn 84 in August, said he expects the search for his successor to take between six to nine months. He added that he plans to remain on in a full-time capacity until then.
As for his plans after retirement, Ruben expects to be doing consulting work in mental health and to remain involved in volunteer services. He plans to take college course work focusing on how parents raise kids in other countries around the world. “I think there are so many things we are not doing as well as we can and should, and I want to understand how parenting works in other countries,” Ruben said. “I am certain I’ll be doing volunteer works as well. I’m not going to retire to play golf or sit in a rocking chair. I’ll be very much involved in further volunteer and service work.”
Founded in 1913, Peninsula Counseling Center was originally centered in Woodmere, with satellite offices in surrounding towns. One of the oldest agencies in Nassau County, it has grown to become the largest outpatient mental health facility in Nassau County during Ruben’s tenure, with more than 20 specialized mental health programs for individuals and families. It has the only outpatient geriatric mental health clinic in Nassau County, including an Alzheimer Day program and home services for the elderly with emotional problems who are unable to travel.
Former board president Bill Herzig attributed much of PCC’s success to Ruben. “Herb Ruben educated and motivated generations of community leaders in the Five Towns,” he said. “His personal growth led to an increasing awareness in our community of mental health issues that were hidden. He brought people and emotional issues out from the shadows and onto an open path of discovery and wellness. Herb has been a rock of our community foundation and I am thankful for his 50-plus year commitment to us. He retires with a solid record of achievement and caring and a PCC that is stronger than ever.”
Herb “Bud” Tilles, PCC board president in the late 1950s, said he still recalls the day he hired Ruben more than 50 years ago. “I can still remember my feelings when I brought Herb Ruben on board as our executive director,” Tilles said. “With each passing day, week, month and year, he confirmed what I had hoped for – that he was a wonderful administrator and skilled professional in the complicated and important field covered by PCC. How lucky we and the community we served were that we had landed such a gem.”
Ruben acknowledged his appreciation and gratefulness for having been given the opportunity of a lifetime in being able to be at the helm of Peninsula Counseling Center over these many years. “I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to work here,” Ruben said. “It’s opened up and enabled me to be of help to others but I’ve also grown enormously from that experience. It’s been my life.”
