Dr. George Michael Gazda

Dr. George Michael Gazda, a pioneering scholar, educator, and leader in the field of counseling psychology, and a devoted father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away on September 11, 2025, in Athens, Georgia, at the age of 94. Born on March 6, 1931, in Thayer, Illinois, to Thomas and Mary Gazda, he lived a life dedicated to advancing the practice of counseling, mentoring generations of students, and building programs that shaped the profession nationwide.

A graduate of Western Illinois University and the University of Illinois where he earned his doctorate in counseling in 1959, George began his academic career teaching at the University of Illinois and the University of Missouri before joining the University of Georgia (UGA) in 1963. Over more than three decades at UGA, he served as Associate Professor, Professor, Research Professor, and later Research Professor Emeritus in the College of Education. He also held appointments as Consulting and Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the Medical College of Georgia and as a consultant to the VA Hospital in Augusta.

At UGA, George co-founded the Counseling Psychology Program, serving as its first training director and guiding it toward American Psychological Association accreditation. He also served as Associate Dean for Research in the College of Education from 1984 to 1994.

Beyond the University, George served as president of five professional associations, including the American Counseling Association (ACA), two divisions of the American Psychological Association (APA), the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision, and the Association for Specialists in Group Work, which he co-founded. He authored or co-authored 16 books, 12 revised editions, and more than 100 articles, chapters, and monographs. His research, teaching, and service were recognized with numerous awards, including ACA’s inaugural David K. Brooks, Jr. Distinguished Mentor Award, ACA’s Arthur A. Hitchcock Distinguished Professional Service Award, APA’s Group Psychologist of the Year Award, APA’s School of Counseling Psychology Elder Recognition Award, the University of Georgia’s College of Education Distinguished Research Professor Award, the University of Illinois’ Distinguished Alumni Award, and Western Illinois University’s College of Education’s Distinguished Alumni Award.

George was deeply dedicated to his faith. Since 1963, he was a devoted member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Athens, where he served in a variety of leadership roles including the Parish Council and the Knights of Columbus. Following his late wife’s passing, he coupled his professional experience with his love for the church and held a bereavement group for members of the community who had also experienced loss. His commitment to the Catholic church was core to his life’s work, shaping his values of service, humility, and compassion.

In addition to his work and his faith, George had a deep love of the land. In the mid-1970s, he purchased a piece of farmland in Athens, which later became Gazda Angus Farm, and remains the Gazda family’s homestead today. He was active on the farm until his final years and could always be found tending his garden even after he moved away. Affectionately known to his granddaughters as “Gramps,” he laid the foundation for his family’s continued involvement in the Angus cattle and agriculture industries, creating a generational legacy that spans to his great-grandson today.

While his professional accomplishments were extensive, George will be most remembered for his devotion to his family. He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Mary Wargo Gazda; his first wife, Barbara Boyd Gazda; and his brothers Thomas and Andrew Gazda. He is survived by his wife, Dolores Queralt Kipping Gazda, who met George while on a trip to Israel sponsored by the Catholic Church; his son and daughter-in-law, David and Carolyn Shackelford Gazda; his granddaughters, Katie Gazda Duvall (Zeb) and Taylor Gazda (Ryan Callahan); his great-grandson, Hudson Stipe; his brothers, Larry (Linda) and Charles (Amy) Gazda; his sisters-in-law, Bobbie Boyd Berola, Beverly Gazda, and Sandra Gazda; and several loving nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his wife’s family, sons Robert and Michael (Anita) Kipping; daughter-in-law Delynn Kipping; grandchildren SaraAnne Eller (Bailey), Alexandra Kipping, Andrew Kipping, Kendall Kipping, Kyle Kipping (Danielle), Marisa Kipping Ellis (Gabe), and Tyler Kipping (Lela); and great-grandchildren Ashton and Camryn Eller and Evan Kipping.

A visitation will be held Thursday, September 18, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at Bernstein Funeral Home, 3195 Atlanta Highway, Athens, Georgia 30606. A brief rosary service will be held at 5:00 p.m. A funeral mass will be held Friday, September 19, 2025, at 2:00 p.m., at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 958 Epps Bridge Parkway, Athens, Georgia 30606.

The family expresses their heartfelt gratitude to the numerous medical staff and selfless caregivers who helped to make George’s final days comfortable.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the St. Joseph Catholic Church Capital Campaign at https://stjosephathens.com/about-us/online-giving/, the Angus Foundation at https://www.angus.org/foundation/make-a-gift/memorial or the George M. and Barbara E. Gazda Counseling Scholarship Endowment at the University of Georgia at https://gail.uga.edu/giving/coe/george-m-and-barbara-e-gazda-counseling-scholarship-endowment are encouraged and would be greatly appreciated.

Bernstein Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.