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| Edwin and Margaret Zolik |
It is with sadness that we have learned of the death of Edwin Zolik. Ed served in the Department of Psychology from 1963 until his retirement in 1988. He passed away on January 29 at his home in Florida at the age of 90.
Ed was a founding member of the field of Community Psychology when he became the Chairperson of the Psychology Department at DePaul University in the mid-1960s, transforming an evening master's program into a psychology doctoral program that had previously not existed. Ed helped secure funds to begin a community mental health center, and also began a series of community psychology discussions at the Midwestern Psychological Association in 1976, that have continued for that past 4 decades.
It was his wish to not have any funeral services.
Our condolences go to the family, friends, colleagues, and former students who mourn the loss of Ed. May he rest in peace.
Mission and Values Office, February 6, 2015
Photo: Courtesy: Catholic University of America
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Photo: Courtesy: Catholic University of America
Lenny Jason wrote this tribute to Ed.
ReplyDeleteDear Friends of Ed:
I will miss Ed, as he was a close friend of mine, and it was his vision of community psychology that initially attracted me to join the DePaul University faculty in 1975. At that time, Ed was the Chairperson of the Psychology Department, and he believed that community psychology had much to offer in developing collaborative partnerships with community groups in solving many of the problems that faced our society. Ed was a founding member of the field of Community Psychology when he became the Chairperson of the Psychology Department at DePaul University in the mid-1960s, transforming an evening master’s program into a several psychology doctoral programs. When he was being originally recruited to join DePaul University, he made it clear to the President that he would only agree to accept the job offer if there was an agreement to begin a doctoral program, and the President agreed to this request. Prior to this, DePaul only had undergraduate and master’s programs.
Over the years, I marveled at how Ed was able to so successfully create new settings, as when he helped secure funds to begin a community mental health center or when he began the series of informal community psychology discussion meetings at the Midwestern Psychological Association in 1976, that have continued for that past 4 decades.
Ed mentored many DePaul graduate students, and he always had time to provide stories about the early years of our Division, his community post-doctoral training at Harvard, and his many adventures doing epidemiology and community-based research. I worked with Ed on a number of studies in the late 1970s, including ones involving dog litter, and Ed was always willing and eager to get involved in the most unorthodox types of community research.
Unassuming and kind, Ed was an active researcher, mentor, and friend, and our field has prospered in so many ways by his presence.
Sincerely,
Lenny Jason