Richard “Duke” Dershimer ’49 died Nov. 21, 2007, in Charlottesville, Va. He was 80.
Dershimer held an M.A. from Columbia University and a Ph.D. from Harvard University and was a life-long advocate for education. During his 10 years as the executive officer for the American Education Research Association, Dershimer transformed the AERA from a small branch of the National Education Association into an organization that took a leading role in promoting the use of educational research for designing federal education policy. His book, The Federal Government and Educational R & D addressed these concerns.
Later in life, Dershimer dedicated himself to hospice care, and, in turn, developed a program to prepare medical professionals and lay volunteers to work with hospice patients, while serving as president of the New York State Hospice Association. His book, Counseling the Bereaved, provided advice to grief counselors based on his philosophy that hospice care should be dedicated to the enhancement of life.
Throughout his life he remained an active string bass performer in jazz and big band groups, as well as symphony orchestras. He is survived by his wife, Greta; two sons; three stepsons; two step-daughters; and seven grandchildren.
