Corinne Nydegger

Corinne N. Nydegger

Corinne Louise Nemetz Nydegger of San Francisco passed away peacefully on Sunday July 28, 2013 following a brief stay in hospice in San Ramon, CA. For nearly 20 years she was a professor in the Medical Anthropology Program in the Department of Epidemiology and International Health at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF).

Born April 15, 1930 in Milwaukee, WI, Corinne was the daughter of Marion Becher Nemetz and Carl William Nemetz, both of Milwaukee. She was married June 16, 1950 to her first husband William Frank Nydegger. Corinne and her then-husband William formed one of six research teams for the groundbreaking Six Cultures Project, and coauthored Tarong: An Ilocos Barrio in the Philippines, among other publications. Together they conducted field research in Tarong.

Corinne received her BA in anthropology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, an MA in Human Development at Cornell University and a PhD in Human Development and Aging at the Pennsylvania State University. She followed her PhD training with a National Institute of Mental Health postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California, Berkeley, and a Public Health Service postdoctoral fellowship at UCSF.

Dr. Nydegger left a legacy of research contributions in the fields of anthropology, life span human development and aging. Dr. Nydegger was one of the very first social scientists to research questions of parent-child relations in adulthood and aging, which had a profound effect in the gerontological field

Dr. Nydegger was elected a fellow of both the Gerontological Society of America and the Society of Applied Anthropology in recognition of her research contributions. She also served on editorial boards for a number of academic journals and served on committees and governing bodies of various professional organizations.

Corinne was predeceased by her second husband, Irving Rosow, whom she married April 22, 1981. She is survived by three children: Charles C. Nydegger, MD, and his wife Debra L. (Weaver) of State College, PA; Cleo C. Nydegger-Tekell of San Ramon, CA, and Elizabeth C. Nydegger. She is also survived by four grandchildren: Erin A. Nydegger of Wyomissing, PA; Andrew C. Nydegger of Philadelphia, PA; Curtis E. Tekell of San Ramon, CA; and Dennis R. Tekell of San Ramon, CA.

According to longtime friend and research partner, Linda S. Mitteness, Corinne was most alive and animated when she was sitting around a table among her colleagues exploring ideas regarding families, and studying behaviors and family relationships. Dr. Nydegger's pioneering research in the fields of human development and aging are part of the body of research for which she will long be remembered.

At Corinne's request, services will be private. Final arrangements will be made by Grissom's, 9130 Alcosta Blvd, San Ramon, CA 94580, 510-278-2800. Interment will be at the Stover Cemetery, Aaronsburg, PA in a private ceremony.