VERONKA JOHN-STEINER Obituary

VERONKA JOHN-STEINER Veronka (Vera) John-Steiner, age 87, died on December 6, 2017 at her home in Santa Fe, NM, surrounded by loved ones. She was a professor of Linguistics and Educational Psychology at the University of New Mexico for over 40 years. She was born in Budapest, Hungary, to Sophie and Ferenc Polgar. Together with her parents and younger brother Steven, she arrived in the United States after World War II as a refugee, having been deported to the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp during the Holocaust. After receiving a BA from Columbia University, she went on to receive a doctorate in Social and Developmental Psychology at the University of Chicago, where she married neuroscientist Roy John and was active in student politics, particularly in opposition to McCarthyism. As a participant in the Civil Rights movement, she met such figures as Paul Robeson, W.E.B. DuBois and Malcolm X. Her interest in education, language acquisition and psycholinguistics led her to work on language-related aspects of the Head Start program and to carry out collaborative projects on the Navajo reservation. After becoming a faculty member at the University of California Los Angeles, she went on to teach at the University of Rochester and Yeshiva University. With her second husband, the writer Stan Steiner, she moved to Santa Fe in the late 1960s. Joining the Psychology Department at UNM, she became a Regents Professor. For her, one of the most rewarding parts of her work was to serve as a mentor to innumerable students at UNM and elsewhere. She was a role model for many, particularly young women scholars, always ready to exchange ideas, to help, and to encourage their growth. Over the years, Veronka became renowned internationally as one of the pioneering and most influential interpreters of the work of groundbreaking developmental psychologist Lev Vygotsky. She won the William James Award from the American Psychological Association for her first book, "Notebooks of the Mind." Her second book, "Creative Collaboration," showed that creativity grows out of human interaction, not merely from the isolated individual genius. Among her other books were "Creative Collaboration" and "Loving and Hating Mathematics," which she co-authored with her partner and long-time collaborator, the mathematician Reuben Hersh. She is survived by her partner Reuben, her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren Paul Steiner, S ndor John, Suki John, Laura John-Mora, Rafael Cocchi and Alex Mora, and her extended family including her friends, collaborators, colleagues and students. Rivera Family Funerals and Cremations 417 East Rodeo Rd. Santa Fe, NM 87505 Phone: (505) 989-7032 riverafamilyfuneralhome.com

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Published by Santa Fe New Mexican from Dec. 8 to Dec. 10, 2017.

Memories and Condolences
for VERONKA JOHN-STEINER

13 Entries

Marita Kerin

April 17, 2018

I learned with great sadness of the passing of this tremendous luminary and scholar at the AERA conference in NYC this weekend. I had planned to visit her, to ask that I might speak to her very briefly as I have been spending time of late getting to know her through her tremendous scholarly output. I will sadly, never have that opportunity.

Marilyn Merritt

February 24, 2018

I was saddened to learn of the passing of Vera John-Steiner, whose work I first encountered in 1963 in a course on small group behavior taught by George Psathas and the late David Sudnow.. As a linguist and student of social interaction in public places, I followed her always creative and insightful work from time to time, and had the delight of meeting her once at the American Anthropological Association meetings, and even having my photo taken there with her and fellow luminaries and friends Barbara Rogoff and Shirley Brice Heath. I regret not having tried to contact her again more recently, as her work and her welcoming encounter have been such an enduring positive influence on my psyche and sense of possibility!

Amy Hazelrigg

February 19, 2018

A huge personality and dazzling mentor. I left Albuquerque many years ago, but Vera comes to mind with great frequency. I plan to return to NM in May and was so looking forward to seeing her and sitting with her, once again, at her dining table overlooked by a portrait of one of her relatives, the only personal possession, she told me, that she was able to take with her when she escaped the Holocaust.

reuben hersh

February 2, 2018

thank you for your memories of Veronka.
they will join with my own, which right now are too powerful for me to put into words.

Suzanne Monroe

January 2, 2018

Dr. John-Steiner was an important influence in my graduate studies at UNM & continuing at the University of Arizona, where I was awarded a doctoral assistantship largely through her supportive efforts. She shared her ideas regarding creativity in a book-signing and lecture "Notebooks of the Mind" at University of Arizona (1986). I remember serious conversations with Vera and Stan regarding Native voice & authorship, and the importance of preserving indigenous languages. She continued to be my role model and mentor, influencing my academic research and teaching style for the next 29 years. For many of us, Vera will be best remembered for her generous spirit and compassion as well as her fine mind and sensitive presentation. She will always be "living" and "loved" in my memories; and I extend my deepest sympathies to her family, friends, and so many loved ones!

Carolyn Kinsman

January 1, 2018

I admired, loved, and revered her. She had a very large impact on me as a thinker and a compassionate being. This is a loss for us all, and I am comforted to know she was in the emrace of family.

Ana Marjanovic-Shane

December 22, 2017

Veronka was my friend, an esteemed scholar who could listen to me and hear me, a younger and unknown researcher, and give me support to find my own voice in the academic world of educational research. She was an inspiration and a patient co-editor and co-author of a book and a few chapters in that book.
She always had a smile when I visited her at home in Santa Fe. I will never forget her great home cooked meals "From the old country".
Veronka John-Steiner was an important Vygotskian Scholar - whose books and articles are clear and passionate. I already miss her.

Carolina Yahne

December 18, 2017

Vera was an important influence and inspiration in my doctoral education at UNM. I valued her as a mentor, role model and friend.

Miriam Martínez

December 18, 2017

A lovely person, a great mentor.
I will love you forever.

December 17, 2017

I had 4 wonderful members on my Doctoral Committee and Dr. John-Steiner was one of them. She was a prolific research scholars, but one who never forgot her students, especially minority students. She was an excellent teacher and mentor, who I'm sure will continue researching and teaching in the Big Beyond, in her favorite, beautiful blue cape. Mil Gracias y Adios, Profesora. Con Amor, Dr. Luisa Duran and Dr. David Bachelor

Annalisa Aguilar

December 16, 2017

Vera's was a life well-lived and to its fullest and ripe with accomplishments. She will be sorely missed, but those emotions will never outshine the gratitude I have for our eventful meetings, across generations, and for the deep influence that she had in my life, and I expect will continue to exert upon it. She was a world-class teacher and friend. Always strong, resilient, poised, and gentle. My deepest condolences to her family and her many friends, students and colleagues for your loss as we try our utmost to celebrate her life, her gifts, and love of life, for so generously and tirelessly touching us as she did.

Meredith Machen

December 13, 2017

Vera was an amazingly appreciative and respectful scholar and a wonderful person. Her deep understanding of the creative process and the evolution of the mind and spirit opened new worlds for me and so many. She helped me explore the development of various art forms and consciousness and the unconscious in ways that I could explain to my students, friends, and colleagues. What a generous, enlightened, inspiring soul. Thank you, Vera, for sharing your ponderings and discoveries.

Courtney Angermeier

December 11, 2017

Vera was a true light in my life...as I know she was in the lives of many. I truly cherished her profound ability to see clearly, to get to the heart of the matter...and a person and to do so with compassion. My phD. never would have happened without her, but my life is impacted by her much more personally than academically. I am currently working on a delicate collaborative project with one of my siblings. We got stuck, and stuck in a hard place. I though over what Vera would have to say or would do. I thought a lot about the meaning of the project for my sister, let that frame the conversation and, among other things, asked her "what is the metaphor that is driving this project for you?" a question Vera asked me several times over the course of working with her. The conversation not only got us unstuck, but proved a fertile ground for us to come to know each other more deeply. A blessing. As Vera was always a blessing to me. I am grateful to have been Vera's student, her guest, and her friend. I will miss her immensely and cherish the treasure I gleaned from her presence in my life. I wish joy and light to her friends and family and mourners.

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