Jim was a compassionate, caring clinician in our practice and a good friend. He will be remembered by all who knew him especially his family.

I am sorry to learn of Jim’s passing. We started graduate school the same year at Rutgers. Jim arrived with more life experience than the rest of us, certainly in my case. He was like an older brother to me those first couple of years; I always felt he had my back and was the trusted and wise friend among our group - - a warm man with a big heart. Rest In Peace, Jim.

Jim was my Dissertation Advisor and first real clinical mentor.  I was probably one of his first dissertation students,  finishing in 11/1993.  Jim was patient, supportive, kind, helpful, direct, caring.  An excellent teacher.  He calmly helped me learn to manage a violent couple.  His mentorship directly prepared me for my first post-graduate job in a substance abuse outpatient center of a community mental health center.  I came to Rutgers in large part for the Center of Alcohol & Drug Studies, and Jim was the main person to give me a home there.  He thought outside the box, and helped me come to believe in myself.  He had my husband and me over for steak dinner after my defense, and I got to meet his oldest son, then small.  I will always be grateful for his help and guidance.   Thanks one last time, Jim.  I’ll miss you.

Jim was a mensch.

He was a genuinely serious scientist, who tackled his research with a clear vision, who also knew how to take the whole thing with a grain of salt when needed.  He was also a really funny guy.  When I asked his opinion of some proposed change to the DSM that had potential for controversy, he said "Well, all the old walruses will be clutching their pearls, but...."

The more I got to know him, the more clear it became to much how much he valued life and all it had to offer -- family,  friends, work, purpose and pleasure.  When I was chair, and he'd come by the office in his wonderful beach attire, I felt my own stress level go down a notch or two just being with him.

Something I particularly valued was the wonderful way we were able to interact when we saw things differently.  He was direct, plain-spoken, and conveyed respect.

I loved teaching with him.  He always worked hard, came up with new, fresh ideas, set high standards for students, and showed a deep respect for the needs of the people served by clinical psychology.

I miss him very much and feel fortunate to have known him.

Jim and I were graduate students together at Rutgers University. He was a year ahead of me, so I always look up to him and sought out his advice on how to survive "gradual" school. Along the way we became friends and enjoyed many intellectual sparring matches about such things as the value of research and even whether we (human beings) are from earth or come from some alien space (Jim convinced me that we are indeed earthlings.
 :) Jim was one of a kind, and I am grateful to have known him.

Each of us whose path has crossed Jim’s carries something of who Jim was in our memories.
I am grateful for  the opportunity  to have worked with Jim both at Rutgers  and at Freehold Psychology Group. My first impression of Jim was his easy-going, laid-back personality, and sharp sense of humor. I recall at my interview he was dressed in jeans and a t-shirt and brought attention to this fact with joke. I later came to know; this was Jim’s preferred attire. 
At research meetings I appreciated Jim’s creative thinking and sense of equality, by allowing all participants the chance to offer ideas and suggestions. I was touched by his support and  belief that each of us had something unique to  contribute. 
During our walks across campus to meetings, we would often talk about our children. Jim’s love for his children was evident during these talks. His children were such a big piece of his heart. 
I extend sincere condolences to his family.


Jim will always be one of my favorite people.  I owe him more than I can explain.  We shared many of the same interests and a familiar sense of the world.  Some of my favorite memories from graduate school were in his company.  Small moments at the Rutgers gym where we would debate the right approach to weight training or discussing ideas about the nature of psychopathology.  He challenged me and I know he made me better as a student, schollar, and person.  He was known for "dressing down" as a professor and it stood out among other faculty, but on the day of my dissertation defense he arrived in full shirt and tie.  It was the ultimate sign of respect.  His way of recognizing the work that went into that project and showing that he genuinely cared about me.  Those lessons you take with find a way into your DNA.  I do my best to honor those lessons and I have told many stories about my time working with Jim to the students in my lab,  my colleagues, and my kids.  I hope that the same generosity of spirit he shared with me has caried on to them.  In some way, I feel like he is part of every lecture I give, lab meeting I run, or lesson I teach my kids about questionning the status quo, understanding their history, or offering compassion for those who deviate from a traditional path.  I will miss Jim a great deal and he will always be much more than a mentor to me.

Jim interviewed me in 1989 for my job at Rutgers Center of Alcohol Studies, where he complained about the traffic in Connecticut and I cross-complained about the traffic in New Jersey.  We had offices next to each other or in the same building for the next 27 years.  I always learned something interesting every time I spoke with Jim.   His mind and his command of language and ability to create brilliant sparkly ideas was always a treat.  He was also funny and loved to laugh at others' jokes.  He was devoted to being the best teacher he could be and created amazing class material (I used to borrow some of it sometimes).    He was also my colleague at Freehold Psychology Group for many years.  He was an unusually insightful and gifted psychologist.  It's hard to fathom that a person like Jim could leave so young, or leave at all.  My condolences to his family.  



I and my colleagues at Freehold Psychology Group were saddened to hear about Jim’s sudden passing. He was a warm and supportive colleague and a talented clinician. He was devoted to his family and often spoke of his love for his children. He will be greatly missed.

I am so sad to hear of this. I was a grad student at Rutgers and got to learn from Jim and later work side by him in private practice in Freehold. He was always so fun and helpful and interested in what I was up to. I know how much he loved his family. My thoughts are with you all during this tough time.

Jim and I were colleagues at Rutgers for many years. He was a brilliant man and creative thinker. His research on the nosology of substance use disorders, performance-enhancing drugs, and the socioeconomics of drug treatment were all ground-breaking. He loved to play with language in his writing and loved to use common words in uncommon ways. He also ran our outpatient alcohol treatment program and provided great supervision to many grad students. As important, though, is how much he loved his kids and would light up with joy whenever we talked about it. I am so sorry for the loss that his death brings to his family and to our field.

OBITUARIO

James Langenbucher

27 septiembre, 1951 – 14 agosto, 2022

Anderson & Campbell Funeral Home

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