Edward Philip Berlá

Dr. Edward P. Berlá, of Fort Myers, FL, a pioneering psychologist, educator, and vocational economic analyst, passed away peacefully at the age of 81, leaving behind a grieving family, and a legacy of scholarship, public service, and compassionate dedication to individuals with disabilities.

Born June 9, 1944 in Brooklyn, to the late Ruth Leigh and Edward Nelson Berlá, Ed spent his minority years there and in Queens, NY with his parents and younger brother, Robert. He graduated from the renowned Stuyvesant High School in Manhattan. While he lived the majority of his life in Kentucky (30 years) and Florida (16 years), with a brief stop-off in Cincinnati for graduate school, Ed never lost his trademark accent or his identification with his roots in New York City.

Ed dedicated over five decades of his life to improving the lives of others through his expertise in psychology, education, and economic evaluation. He earned his Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Cincinnati, and held earlier degrees from Humboldt State University and Adelphi University. He also completed extensive postdoctoral training in economics and clinical psychology at Purdue University and the University of Louisville.

Throughout his distinguished career, Ed held a variety of influential roles. He began his career as a research psychologist at the American Printing House for the Blind in Louisville from 1970 until 1975, and continued as a Research Design Consultant with them through 1982. Beginning in 1975, he served as a professor in the Department of Special Education at the University of Louisville for over 25 years, where he taught and published in the fields of visual impairment, learning disabilities, hedonics, and psychological assessment. His research shaped how educators and psychologists understand and support children and adults with disabilities, as well as for professionals to assess financial damages related to catastrophic injuries.

After completing additional coursework and training, Ed obtained his license in clinical psychology and began a private practice in 1983. Beginning in 1985, Ed simultaneously worked with Vocational Economics, Inc., where he served as a vocational economic analyst and expert witness. His work provided critical testimony in legal cases involving injury, disability, and loss of earning capacity. His clinical psychology practice included providing psychotherapy for children and adults, as well as conducting forensic and therapeutic evaluations for personal injury, child custody, and post-traumatic stress. Ed was known amongst the Louisville Family Law Bar as an ethical and esteemed practitioner.

He authored and co-authored over 40 peer-reviewed publications and professional papers, focusing particularly on the education of blind and visually impaired students, the economics of disability, and the loss of pleasure in life following traumatic injury. His scholarly contributions were internationally recognized and widely cited.

A leader in both national and international forums, Ed gave dozens of invited presentations at conferences in Europe and across North America. His consultancy work included partnerships with the American Printing House for the Blind, the Department of Education, the Social Security Administration, and various disability advocacy organizations.

In addition to his professional work, Ed served on the boards of the Kentucky School for the Blind and The DePaul School, and consulted for agencies supporting children with disabilities

and developmental challenges. His service was marked by a deep belief in equal access to education and opportunity for all.

Ed loved spending summers on Long Island, sailing, fishing, and reading on the beach with his young family. In later years he loved traveling the world with his wife and companion, Patty, making fine dining and a good red wine a priority wherever he went. Ed loved live and recorded music, especially jazz and old standards. As a teen, he played guitar in a successful band, providing entertainment at many weddings and bar mitvahs around NYC. Although he could not carry a tune in a bucket, he was an accomplished guitarist and pianist throughout his adult life. Always an avid gym rat, he discovered his mid-life passion on the links, playing until two years before his death.

Ed was obsessive-compulsive in the most high-functioning way possible. He emphasized education above all else, earning him the family nick-name, “Dr. ED-ucation Berlá.” A voracious reader, Ed was a politics and history buff, with special interests in the American Civil and two World Wars. He took pride in his daughter Kathryn following him into the field of psychology, and was always there to offer guidance and support. He adored his grandson Johnathan, perpetually offering encouragement, paying for piano lessons, and sneaking him extra helpings of ice cream behind his mother’s back. Ed is remembered not only for his vast intellect and contributions to multiple disciplines, but also for his humility, warmth, and unwavering commitment to justice and democracy. He leaves behind a grieving community of colleagues,

Ed leaves behind his loving wife of 22 years, Patricia (Donaldson) Berlá, of Fort Myers, FL, his devoted daughter, Kathryn Berlá, and his beloved grandson Johnathan Hoyle, both of Louisville. He also leaves behind Patty’s children Courtney Casper, and Michael Hart (Tatum) and step-grandchildren Mackenzie, Keegan, and Cody Casper, and Lily, Wyatt, and Emmett Hart; his brother Robert Berlá (MaryAnn), of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and his nieces Kristine Canady (Patrick) and Melissa Downie, also of Massachusetts. Ed is also survived by daughter Susan Berlá of Louisville.

A memorial visitation will be held at ** on August 16, 2025, 11am-3pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to NPR or any local or national public broadcasting television or radio station.