[Nikki Longlegs]

tl;dr - Much beloved NYU professor jumps to his death after arguing with wife about their preemie twins. Psychologist blames post-partum depression.

Okay, if men can have post partum depression now, can we admit it's not some weird hormonal thing, but more like "OMGWTF was I thinking having kids?" Srsly- for every one happy parent I meet, I meet 10 more who are quietly blinking "S.O.S" from behind a forced smile. I just think being a parent requires a degree of selflessness that most people (myself included) are just incapable of.

Originally Posted by Huffpost

NYU professor Sam Roweis jumped to his death from his Greenwich Village apartment Tuesday, and friends and colleagues still cannot understand what could have driven him to such a point of desperation.
The highly-regarded computer science professor leaped from the 16th floor of his building after fighting with his wife over the care of their 15-month-old twins who were born prematurely and had been sick.
According to the National Post,

Witnesses at the bustling housing complex for New York University faculty, near Washington Square Park, told local media outlets that from what they could gather, Mr. Roweis must have jumped during a lull in a noisy argument. His wife, Meredith Goldwasser, did not realize he was missing until later, and was distraught when she discovered what had happened. Reports said the incident took place shortly after 10 p.m.

A psychotherapist hypothesized that Roweis could possibly have been a victim of postpartum depression, saying that "studies suggest men may be just as likely as women to be depressed when they become parents. The condition is typically called paternal postnatal depression."
Roweis was an award-winning researcher who "impressed his colleagues with his sharp mind and quick wit," making his suicide that much more "unfathomable" to them.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/0..._n_421500.html

[BadUglyMagic]

His wife pushd him. He probably has pretty good insurance and now she won't hve to listen to him tell her the right way to take care of sick preemies.

[Kiko]

Sounds like he may have been a victim of HER post partum depression....

But seriously.. by 15 months, if infants aren't over being premature, someone didn't do things right... whether it's the doctor, parents or whoever.

[Ajamil]

That's really sad. He jumped during the argument? She's gonna feel like shit the rest of her life, and his kids won't have their father.

Roweis "impressed his colleagues with his sharp mind and quick wit," making his suicide that much more "unfathomable" to them.

It doesn't to me. Sharp mind and quick wit makes me lean towards his mind catching something as a problem that his close relations couldn't understand/follow his logic. He might have felt very isolated due to his intelligence, and thus couldn't share his depressive thoughts with people. He might have tried and someone innocently said something to make it worse along the lines of, "Why are you so glum? You're a great professor, have a lovely wife, two new and wonderful boys, and one of the smartest men I know. I'm sure you can get through anything troubling you."

[jkdbuck76]

The preemies being good after 15 months? Not so. It depends on how premature they were. Preemies can have long-term effects when it comes to eyesight, learning, hearing....you name it.

Its all pretty sad.

[Kiko]

Quite sad. Another more local source...from the day after.

NYU professor jumps to death from Greenwich Village apartment

An NYU professor jumped to his death from the 16th floor of a Greenwich Village high-rise last night after a heated argument with his wife over the care of their kids, cops said.

Investigators said the agitated educator stalked into a back room of his apartment in the Washington Square Village housing complex and went off a balcony so quietly that his wife did not realize what had happened until she couldn't find him.

He landed in the courtyard of the building between LaGuardia Place and W. Third St.

"The wife came down and asked if it was true somebody jumped," said a doorman at the NYU staff housing complex. "When we told her, she just started wailing."

Police said the victim was in his late 30s, but declined to give his name or describe his work at NYU.

A building worker said the couple had been arguing over the care of their young twins, a girl and a boy.

"But he seemed to be a very happy guy, so no one expected anything like this," the worker said.

[Commodore Pipes]

Originally Posted by mojo23

Okay, if men can have post partum depression now, can we admit it's not some weird hormonal thing, but more like "OMGWTF was I thinking having kids?"

Well, it's my understanding that a spouse's hormones can influence his/her partner's hormones.

[Nikki Longlegs]

Originally Posted by Kiko

Sounds like he may have been a victim of HER post partum depression....

dunno... booze?

Originally Posted by Kiko

But seriously.. by 15 months, if infants aren't over being premature, someone didn't do things right... whether it's the doctor, parents or whoever.

dunno... booze?

Wow... that phrase is a fitting response to almost anything. I guess booze really IS the answer!

...at leat that's what my dad said before he punched me in the head.

[Nikki Longlegs]

Originally Posted by Commodore Pipes

Well, it's my understanding that a spouse's hormones can influence his/her partner's hormones.

I'm sure they can. I'm also pretty sure kids are way more of a pain in the ass than a lot of people care to admit. I was fairly well behaved and I was a pain in the ass...

...at least that's what my dad said before he punched me in the head.

[Commodore Pipes]

In the interests of full disclosure, I knocked my lady up and her hormone levels are messing with my hormone levels, so I've seen it first hand. Or else I'm a massive pussy...

...at least that's what mojo23's dad said before he punched me in the head.