SEBASTIAN HERBSTEIN

Sebastian Herbstein was born and raised in New York City. He is the middle child of Drs. Diego Herbstein and Judith Freidenberg. He has an older brother, Julian, a younger sister, Gabriela, and a stepmother, Roberta. 

After graduating from high school in 1992, “Sebi” enrolled at Colby College in Waterville, Maine. At Colby, Sebi grew and flourished. His studies focused upon creative writing, in which he excelled. 

Outside of class, Brother Herbstein found his greatest friendships in the Xi Chapter of Delta Kappa Epsilon.  Sebi was a young man who found great joy in the simple pleasures of life. He enjoyed telling fanciful stories, spent hours at the fraternity house sitting around and laughing heartily over the tales of the brothers’ exploits. 

Sebi also loved to cook, and would, with pride, recount the making of the “Semmich,” a sandwich creation of his own design, which he say was so exceptional because of the addition of Hearts of Palm. Sebi also loved to travel. Following graduation from Colby in 1996, he lived in Paris and Tokyo, where he taught English and completed his semi-autobiographical novel, a copy of which can be read here.  The true wonder and greatness of Sebastian Herbstein cannot be conveyed in words.  You had to know him to love him. 

I loved how he told his stories, how his laughter was contagious, how he was able to bring people together as friends. I even loved the fact that he refused to get his haircut, or that he insisted on wearing corduroys and Doc Martins all summer long (but those are stories for another day).

Sebastian passed away far too soon in June 2002.

On behalf of Sebi’s family and friends, I am so pleased that we are able to establish this scholarship fund. I am sure that Sebi is pleased as well, and that he is looking down at us and laughing in the way that only he could.

-- Dr. Judith Freidenberg