Missing you an amazing mentor who taught me how to read and evaluate research. I only now understand (15 years later) your “On contextual determinants of stimulus potency paper” 

Dr. Jacob Gewirtz was my favorite professor during my first and only year of graduate school developmental psychology phd program at fiu.  He was recognized by many as a teacher of teachers who are students.  We got to witness the socratic method practiced with finesse. or however you spell it.  He practiced it as a learning method with finesse.... Well,  living on a yacht on ne 79th miami beach and attending fiu produced conflicting interests.  The women and the open ocean won.  Sorry Dr. Gewirtz.  Perhaps i would have had more interesting  stories to tell had i continued to learn to learn with you.  Please study the angels smile response when returning to heaven.  
you can find me if you can if you have a good accountant.  lol,  im in the books,  1993 year.  or abouts.  i probably owe the school money. I owe Dr. Jacob Gewirtz more than money.  thank you professor

I write with affection and profound respect in remembrance of Jack Gewirtz, a friend and long-time academic colleague.

Jack was an adjunct faculty member at UMBC (University of Maryland, Baltimore  County) while I taught there.  I came to appreciate him and his work mainly because he often joined a group of the UMBC psychology faculty for an informal Monday late-afternoon wine and cheese event that met regularly over a number of years, mostly in the 1970s and 1980s (if my recollection is correct).

Jack was helpful in many ways in getting the department to move in a behavioral direction.  I suspect he played a role in my candidacy for a position at UMBC (I interviewed there in the Spring of 1973).  I and several other colleagues at UMBC would have been far less well-informed about developmental issues, generalized imitation, attachment and many other important topics had it not been for these continuing informal conversations with Jack.  Along with discussing his own work, he kept us informed about the research of Sid Bijou, Don Baer, Claire Poulson and so many others.  His knowledge was both broad and deep, and his contributions have been major and enduring ones.  I owe him a substantial intellectual debt and I'm grateful to have known him both as a friend and as a colleague.

Charlie Catania


I met Jacob at numerous ABAI conventions over the years and always looked forward to talking with him. He was always friendly, stimulating and generous as well as being inquisitive and humorous.  I know that he enriched my life and I know that he improved the lives of so many others.

I am sorry to hear of Jack's passing,  He was one of those wonderful people I had the privilege to meet, and interact with, at our professional conferences each year. He was an important figure in our field, very encouraging, and really a great person. His impact will, I feel sure, be felt for many years to come.

Jack was a “larger than life” force, both socially and intellectually.  I encountered his early outstanding writing on learning and attachment as a grad student and it has had a strong influence on my own work.  When I was on the  search committee for chair of our department many years ago, I was so excited to see that Jack had applied.   We hired him, he negotiated  for our doctoral program (one of the first two at FIU), developed a program in behavior analysis, and mentored many students over the years.  

He was utterly charming.  I would often come across Jack at conferences, surrounded by colleagues and admirers listening intently, because he was sometimes extraordinarily erudite, sometimes provocative, but always worth listening to.   He challenged intellectual laziness, nudging his listeners to higher levels of critical thought  We had our differences in ideation and style, but my admiration for him has never wavered.  

His loss is no doubt felt most keenly by his family and Jerry and I extend our deepest sympathy to them.   But his loss will also be felt far and wide by his many colleagues, students, friends, and all who have been inspired by his work or touched by his graciousness.  

Dr. Gewirtz’s influence on my life is difficult to capture. He always encouraged me. I believe I was the last graduate student he ever accepted into the developmental program at FIU. This is a bitter sweet badge of honor.  Earlier, as an undergraduate student he helped me tremendously by taking me under his wing and yet allowing me to independently research and learn. I remember one time, he asked me to review his paper and give feedback. I thought it was pretty amazing that he could see that even an undergraduate student could potentially give him something of value. All I did was correct his commas, because I didn’t understand half of what he wrote at the time. Still, he inspired me and gave me the belief that I could do good work. Because of him I became a behavior analyst. He also challenged me and my beliefs and welcomed discussion. He had a thick skin and made sure I had one too. He made me feel capable and smart when I needed it most. He made me feel special just for being Cuban and often offered me Cafecito. I’d also catch him offering it to Dr. Cigales and that’s how I knew I was also a friend. He had a fascination with names and would tell people the history of their name when he was in the mood. I admired how I’d ask him a question and I would often get an answer I least expected. He’d say old school things that only seniors can get away with and it always made me laugh. Any success in my career is largely from his influence. He will always be an important figure in my life and I will miss him dearly. I hope to have even a fraction of impact he had and I look forward to meeting him again in our next life. Rest in peace Jack.

I can't remember what year I met Dr. Gewirtz. I know I was an undergraduate student the first time I encountered him and was very intimidated by him. I dropped his class thinking I just wasn't smart enough to be there. I found my way back to FIU after I completed my M.S. in Psychology with a concentration in counseling. When I did, he caught up to me again. Except this time, I didn't feel like I wasn't smart enough, because he told me that "we need smart people like you in behavior analysis". 
He was a force of nature in the field of behavior analysis and I was lucky and honored to have known him. He was the first person to encourage me to pursue behavior analysis. He was passionate about bringing people to the field. I could go on and on about him as a leader in behavior analysis but what I enjoyed the most about him was his character. He corrected me when I spoke incorrectly. He knew everyone's background based on their last name. He was sarcastic and funny! He didn't care to offend but was kind. He would say "Hey, you know my friends call me Jack" every time I would refer to him as Dr. Gewirtz. He wore his guayaberas and would go around looking for people to share his cafecito. He would pull me out of my seat in my office and share his lunch with me. He was just such a fun person to have around. I'm heartbroken that he is no longer with us, but I know his memory will be what continues to drive so many of those who knew him.

Dr. Jack Gewirtz was a dear colleague devoted to psychology, science and the behavioral perspective. Will be forever grateful for the opportunities he guided me to pursue. I had the privilege to teach along him as adjunct faculty at FIU. I am saddened by the great loss. My thoughts and prayers to the family. Will always remember him with great respect and affection.  His memory is a blessing to all his students and colleagues!  My condolences.

Dr. Gewirtz had an important impact on my life. I met Jack around 1990 as an undergraduate student while attending meetings with him and Dr. Martha Palaez in the child development research laboratory. I also took a senior lab he co-taught with Martha. I am so grateful for the experiences I had during those last two years of college. After being out of school for several years. I had wanted to go to graduate school, but that goal had begun to fade more every year. A phone call I received from Dr. Gewirtz changed that. He asked me about my plans for graduate school and I let him know my schedule was too packed to consider this. Dr. Gewirtz suggested I try taking a class and then decide if I wanted to apply. He expressed confidence in my ability. This conversation filled me with excitement about the prospect of going back to school. I considered for the first time in quite a while that this could be a possibility for me. If I had not taken that step, my career would be quite different today – it affected all aspects of my life. I do not know why he reached out to me that day, or if he ever knew the impact that phone call had on my life. Dr. Gewirtz became my chair for my master's thesis. I am so grateful for the guidance he provided to me. The things I learned from Jack continue to influence me today. I am so grateful for the time I spent with Jack. I will not forget him.  


Sara Richardson (Clasky) 

Jack was my most beloved professor, mentor, friend, and something else so special that he was the only one in that category and I don’t have a word for it. I met Jack in 1988, when I arrived at FIU as a master’s student and attended a new student orientation at which he spoke. I found him so intimidating that I avoided him for a long time. When I finally found myself in his developmental behavior analysis class, I quickly realized he was all bark. We hit it off immediately, and I loved him from that moment on. No one figured more prominently in shaping my future than Jack. He gave me the world of behavior analysis. With it came academic and professional opportunities beyond what I had imagined and a community of brilliant and caring people, many of whom are my closest friends and colleagues. I owe Jack my entire career and the wonderful life I have enjoyed because of it. I am so grateful and will miss him dearly.  My sympathies to Jonathan, Dan and all of his loved ones.

Maricel (AKA Bo)


I met Dr. Gewirtz in 2008, and altered the course of my life permanently.  I remember vividly our first meeting, and how unprepared and immature I felt in talking with him about the science of behaviorism. Although I had a masters degree and was a BCBA, I realized quickly I didn’t know ANYTHING yet. 

But Jack made me feel welcome and capable, he instilled in me this confidence to pursue whatever area of research I was interested in. Working with Jack was a wild adventure. It required self-determination, guts, and a willingness to go against the grain. Behaviorism isn’t without its controversies, of that I’m well aware. But what Jack did was to make it so damn clear that what we were saying was valid and observable and measurable, that it was worth sticking your neck out scientifically.  

Most importantly, Jack taught me the importance of being able to relate theoretically across disciplines and points of view. We are, after all, very often saying the same things in different ways. Jack was charismatic and friendly with everyone, and shared his knowledge and wisdom with anyone who would listen. He took chances on less-than-perfect candidates and gave people opportunities to participate in research and other academic pursuits who likely thought they’d never be in those roles. I hope to have that impact some day. 

RIP Jack. You will live on with us forever. Age is a hollow variable, after all.

Today we lost and extraordinary man, Dr. Jacob (Jack) Gewirtz. Z"L"

To Dr. Gerwitz's family and friends. We want to extend our sincere condolences for your loss.
We will always remember many amazing moments together as well as his intelligence, sharp wit, commitment to the field and pursuit of knowledge. Mentor and friend to many. We had the honor to spend time at ABAI meetings and gatherings at his apartment or his son's home. I will always remembered when he called me home to invite me to join his PH.D program which I unfortunately could not accept at that time  but at least I had the great opportunity to be part of his adjunct faculty team.
Dr Gewirtz  was a Professor Emeritus of Florida International University.  
His research and professional accomplishments are likely to be unmatched in the area of developmental psychology and, in particular, the role of behavior analysis in understanding child development and parenting. 
He was a pioneering researcher in this area with more than 100 publications, yet he maintains his scholarly momentum by continuing to publish numerous research papers, review articles, and books. 
He has trained some of the most eminent figures in behavioral development. He has been recognized for his substantial contributions by his selection as an American Psychological Association Fellow in six different divisions, his membership in Society for Research in Child Development and the Psychonomic Society, as Chairperson and Program Chair of the ABA International Behavioral Development SIG. 
Dr. Gewirtz's areas of research interest included developmental behavior analysis, adaptive and social learning, diagnosis/modification of problem behaviors.
We will always remember you!! Thank you for letting us be part of all your special gatherings!!We won't be able to be with you in person due to COVID precautions but you will be in our heart.
Jacqueline, Shlomo, Melanie and Maxime Korner


I must have been seven years old when I first met Dr. Gewirtz in the late 1980s, and he in his early sixties. He entered our lives when he became my mother's academic mentor and continued as her guide throughout her long journey in the field of Psychology. In one of my earliest memories of him, Dr. Gewirtz phoned my mom at home, and I answered the call. I had little experience answering phone calls and therefore was not quite polished in phone etiquette. On the other end of the line, one would have heard Dr. Gewirtz say "is this how your mother taught you to greet one when answering the phone?" in a calm, unemotional voice. I was a bit embarrassed but was not taken aback, as by that point he already had adopted a grandfatherly role in my life, and as such, I welcomed  the lessons as he taught them. He had a unique way of making one feel simultaneously inadequate and somehow deeply cared for, all while using very few words.
He was frugal with compliments and not one for flattery--that is how you knew he truly meant it when he offered praise. I will never forget him telling me how proud he was of my mother after she received tenure. The only other time I detected pride in his voice was when hearing him talk about his sons, Jonathan and Daniel.
Dr. Gewirtz lent a new sort of elegance to the classic guayaberas that were a staple of his wardrobe. And I would argue that one of his most distinguishing attributes was his ever-present, half-dry, witty and highly-intellectual humor.
Through my eyes, Dr. Gewirtz always was eloquent, yet brief. Thoughtful and analytical. Calm and gentle, yet intimidating and powerful. He was revered by his students and colleagues, loved and supported by his sons, and admired by all who knew him or of him. 
Most of us may be envious of those lucky enough to live into their nineties. But when you lose someone you love, no amount of time is ever enough. I will miss Dr. Gewirtz and will remember him fondly, always. May his memory be for a blessing.

To Jack’s family and friends, I want to extend my sincerest sympathy for your loss, our loss. I met Jack in 2009, at FIU, when he was a youthful 85 and still serving as a full professor of psychology. But I knew of him from his remarkable scholarly career. He was an intellectual in an era when scholars were allowed, even encouraged, to think big thoughts. We spent many times together including the annual pilgrimage to the meetings of the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI), dinner parties on boats in Coconut Grove, gatherings at Jack’s Brickell condo, huge holiday dinner parties at our Kendall house, lunches at the FIU Faculty Club, and of course, psychology seminars. I remember in particular a wild rickshaw ride from the ABAI Convention Center in Minneapolis to the Convention Hotel (rickshaws in Minneapolis, you had to be there). Jack was always open to an idea, to an adventure. Irreverence served a purpose in Jack’s life. I am sure that it was a challenge to live with day to day, but I found that once I got used to it and saw its pattern, it made me laugh. Jack appreciated my appreciation, I think. I will not be attending the service out of an abundance of caution regarding COVID but rest assured that I will be there in spirit. Rest in peace, Jack.

 Jonathan, wishing you and your family peace to bring comfort & courage during this difficult time. May the fond memories of your dad and the togetherness you shared surround and give you strength. I am forever grateful that God allowed me to be a useful servant for your father - especially outings to Pollo for balsamic tomatoes! Sending  love, prayers, and blessings your way. 

Jack was a thoughtful scholar who brought a refreshing and critical perspective to our work. I am grateful for the many kindnesses that he extended to me as a junior scholar and administrator at FIU.  

Mark B. Rosenberg
President
Florida International University 

I had the pleasure of being Jack's TA and loved working with him. He had a wonderful sense of humor and was always sharing random facts with me like the meaning of names and the history of the ducks on campus. I remember being nervous about going to my first social event with faculty as a graduate student - Jack showed up with a six-pack of beer and stories of being a steelworker in his younger days. He had a way of relating to everyone and so many wonderful stories. I'm very grateful that I had to chance to get to know him. 

OBITUARY

Jacob Leon Gewirtz

31 July, 1924 – 12 February, 2021

Lakeside Memorial Park & Funeral Home

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