Remembering Alan Rabinowitz

Alan Rabinowitz

Jane Fraser and Alan Rabinowitz

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Stuttering Foundation Board Member Dr. Alan Rabinowitz. Known around the world as one of the foremost conservationists of “big cats” through his work with Panthera, Alan will forever be remembered by the stuttering community as a true inspiration. His book, A Boy and a Jaguar, chronicles his fulfillment of a promise to speak for animals, and people, who cannot speak for themselves.

Obituaries in The New York Times:
• Alan Rabinowitz, Conservationist of Wild Cats, Dies at 64

• The board and staff of Panthera mourn the passing of our co-founder, Alan Rabinowitz

• The Washington Post: Alan Rabinowitz, champion of leopards, jaguars and other wild cats, dies at 64

• Mongabay: Alan Rabinowitz, big cat evangelist and voice of the wild, dies at 64

• The Scientist: Wild Cat Conservationist Alan Rabinowitz Dies

• The Nation: World mourns passing of leading wild cat expert and conservationist Alan Rabinowitz, age 64

Alan Rabinowitz — We Are All Wildlife

• WCS: WCS Offers Tribute to Dr. Alan Rabinowitz

• Rabinowitz Leaves a Legacy in the Animal & Stuttering Communities

Articles from National Geographic:
• "Indomitable" Jaguars May Have Lessons in Survival for Us

• Alan Rabinowitz, Wild Cats' Champion and Protector, Dies

• Video of Alan Rabinowitz sharing his story about stuttering during the Stuttering Foundation's gala

• Statement on the Life and Legacy of Panthera Founder and Renowned Conservationist, Dr. Alan Rabinowitz

Updated Aug. 9, 2018

CELEBRITY FOCUS

Bill Withers

While Bill Withers has long been on the Stuttering Foundation's list of Famous People Who Stutter, many people probably didn’t realize he stuttered. He passed away on March 30, 2020.

Born in 1938 in Slab Fork, W.V., Withers was the youngest of six children. When his father died when Withers was small, he was raised by his mother and grandmother, both of whom worked as domestics.

King George

In November 2010, worldwide movie audiences were presented with a most interesting and unusual movie release with The King’s Speech, starring Colin Firth as King George VI and Helena Bonham Carter as his wife Elizabeth.

Unfortunately, history may have forgotten the courageous and inspiring story of Prince Albert who stuttered badly and never dreamed that he would ever be king when his older brother, King Edward VIII, abruptly abdicated the throne in 1936 to marry Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee.

John Stossel

John Stossel is one of the most recognized and articulate reporters today. However, he once considered giving up his broadcasting career because of his stuttering.

“Fear of stuttering can easily become worse than the stuttering itself,” observed Stossel. “The idea that I’m on television and making speeches is still a shock to me sometimes.”

Darren Sproles

Darren Sproles, a former player for The Philadelphia Eagles, the New Orleans Saints and the San Diego Chargers, made history in 2007 when he became the first player in NFL history to return a kickoff and a punt for his first two NFL touchdowns in the same game. In 2021, he was selected to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Bruce Willis

While the world knows Bruce Willis as an A-list actor, few know that he struggled with stuttering throughout his first 20 years.

Walter Bruce Willis was born in 1955 in West Germany to his German mother, Marlene, and his American GI father, David Willis. The family settled in David’s hometown of Penns Grove, New Jersey in 1957, and the couple has three other children.