Tuesday night NYU computer science professor Sam Roweis jumped to his death from his 16th floor balcony at 1 Washington Square Village. The 37-year-old had allegedly been arguing with his wife about how to care for their 15-month-old "sickly" twins. Police say this triggered his suicide.
Now the Daily News takes a look at who Roweis was, noting he had just started his professorship in the Fall of '09, and had a reputation as a brilliant researcher. Friends and colleagues say the incident is unfathomable, and that Roweis "was very personable and full of bubbly enthusiasm."
Another colleague told the National Post, "I think he was probably under immense pressure academically and had incredible stress due to the care of the children. It is even more surprising because he was such a responsible, professional, and successful person."
One psychotherapist discussed the possibility of men experiencing postpartum depression, saying "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." This can cause lack of sleep and hormonal changes — including "a drop in testosterone levels that makes them more likely to stick around and look after a baby, but also more likely to feel angry or depressed."
