A Tribute Page to
Marvin B. Sussman
In Memoriam
Marvin B. Sussman
October 27, 1918 - August 5, 2007
Marvin B. Sussman was UNIDEL Professor of Human Behavior, Emeritus, Individual and Family Studies, University of Delaware. Previously he held the Selah Chamberlain Professor of Sociology, Case Western Reserve University, and Professor of Sociology and Chair of the Department of Medical Social Sciences at the Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest University. He received a number of academic honors including the Ernest W. Burgess Award presented by the National Council on Family Relations (1980), Distinguished Scholar Award, Family division (1985) and the Lee Founders award (1992) both awarded by the Society for the Study of Social problems. He was elected to The National Senior Citizen Hall of Fame (1986).
An extremely productive scholar on the cutting edge of numerous areas in sociology, Marvin authored, co-authored, edited, or co-edited 53 monographs and books, authored 118 chapters in books and monographs, and published 120 articles dealing with the family, community, rehabilitation, organizations, sociology of medicine and aging. He was the founding editor of, Marriage and Family Review, from the first issue which appeared in February, 1978 through 1997.
Upon learning of his death, Bill Cohen, Publisher & Editor-in-Chief of The Haworth Press, Inc., noted:
Marvin was one of the "greats" of marriage & family studies who joined with Haworth Press, Inc., when it was in its infancy. One of his more unusual projects with Haworth was a special issue of the journal Marriage & Family Review consisting of articles rejected by other marriage & family journals. He provided his own content re-analysis and commentary, giving voice to authors who were muted for what he thought were "lamebrain" editorial reasons. … When I think of him, I think of simple words: honor, duty, loyalty, kindness.
Countless scholars have benefited from Marvin’s sponsorship and the numerous academic opportunities he provided. He was particularly supportive of women, minorities, and older returning students at a time when these groups generally were ignored. He will be missed, but his legacy will be remembered.
Source: Funeral Home
OBITUARY
MARVIN BERNARD SUSSMAN
Dr. Marvin Bernard Sussman, 88, died August 5, 2007.
He was born October 27, 1918 in Bronx, New York, NY. For the past 15 years he resided in Sebastian, FL where he was associated with the Kashi Ashram.
Survivors include his brothers Harvey and Jerry Sussman of Fairfield CT; sons, Kenneth Sussman of Tampa, FL, Stuart Sussman of Duluth, GA, daughters, Martha Walters of Waynesville. OH, Nancy McCarren of Washington, DC; 5 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren. He was pre-deceased by his parents Louis and Gussie Sussman and his wife, Ruth.
Professor Sussman received a bachelor's degree from New York University in 1941, master's degrees from George Williams College (1943) and Yale University (1949) and a doctorate from Yale in 1951. He was UNIDEL Professor of Human Behavior, Emeritus, Individual and Family Studies, University of Delaware. Previously he held the Selah Chamberlain Professor of Sociology, Case Western Reserve University, and Professor of Sociology and Chair of the Department of Medical Social Sciences at the Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest University. He was on the graduate faculty of Union Institute and University, Cincinnati, Ohio after he retired.
Dr. Sussman served terms as president of the Society for the Study of Social Problems, the Ohio Valley Sociological Society and the Ohio Council on Family Relations. He was the founding editor of Marriage and Family Review. He received a number of academic honors including the Ernest W. Burgess Award presented by the National Council on Family Relations (1980), Distinguished Scholar Award, Family division (1985) and the Lee Founders award (1992) both awarded by the Society for the Study of Social problems. He was elected to The National Senior Citizen Hall of Fame (1986).
An extremely productive scholar on the cutting edge of numerous areas in sociology, he debunked the notion that as the result of modernization and geographic mobility, the nuclear family was isolated. Sussman authored, co-authored, edited, or co-edited 53 monographs and books, authored 118 chapters in books and monographs, and published 120 articles dealing with the family, community, rehabilitation, organizations, sociology of medicine and aging. He traveled to more than 40 countries around the world to develop cross-national research in the field.
Dr. Sussman was a member of the Sociological Research Association, American Sociological Association, International Sociology Association, National Council on Family Relations, National Rehabilitation Association, International Union of Family Organizations, Society for the Study of Social Problems, American Public Health Association, American Statistical Behavioral Science and Medical Education and Groves Conference on Marriage and the Family, and he was an honorary affiliate of the American Association of Marriage and Family Counselors.
He was a long time student of Jean Houston and devoted Chela (student) of Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati. He endowed the Marvin B. Sussman library at Ma's Providence Orphan's Center in Uganda which now serves over 1500 aids orphans.
He was an avid sailor and former Commodore of the Chesapeake Bay Yacht Club.
Source: Official Obituary
From Groves President, Leslie Koepke
To those of you who are seasoned Groves members, you know of Marvin’s instrumental influence on Groves Conference on Marriage and Family. For those of you who are less familiar with Marvin’s legacy, it needs to be said that Groves Conference would not be what it is today had it not been for his unique influence. From nominating numerous top notch (as well as unrecognized) family scholars for membership, to encouraging conferences that were "ahead of the curve" both in theme and location; to creating the Sussman Endowment which allows us to provide awards for scholarly research relating to conference themes, Dr. Sussman was a member of great influence and a role model for us to follow. Groves Conference has lost a great leader, a unique scholar, and a kind and gentle man.
We will lift a glass of wine this evening to Dave Gohsman and also to Marvin Sussman, as we have done in tha past. To Marvin's memory and to my husband: Dave is 68 today and this will always be his and Marvin's birthday.
Best regards, Marsha and Dave GohsmanMarsha Gohsman
10/27/07
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