Arthur K. Berliner

Arthur K. Berliner Arthur K. Berliner, husband, father, grandfather, great- grandfather and university professor emeritus has shuffled off his mortal coil. He was born July 4, 1920 in Brooklyn, New York. Earning a Bachelor of Social Science degree at the City College of New York, he then secured a Master's degree in Social Work at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio before joining the Army Air Corps during World War II. At war's end, Arthur was reassigned from B-29 flight duties. His final wartime service involved counseling hospitalized psychiatric casualties of military service. Returning to civilian life in 1946, Arthur was employed as a medical social worker, then case supervisor, with the Veterans Administration Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio. From there he was recruited by the U.S. Public Health Service in 1949 to become Chief Social Worker at the USPHS hospital in Fort Worth, treating narcotic addicts and mentally ill merchant seamen. While serving in this position, Arthur wrote a number of articles published in professional journals on such topics as drug addiction, rehabilitation of criminals and related subjects. In 1980 he was honored as Texas Social Worker of the Year. Arthur's last government post was with the Department of Justice's Federal Bureau of Prisons. At their request he designed a rehabilitation program for alcohol abusers, numbers of whom were inmates of federal prisons. He ran the program for two years, then retired from federal service. While pursuing a PhD in Sociology at the University of North Texas (awarded in 1982) Arthur organized, then directed Texas Christian University's new Social Work Education program. He continued to write for publication, including two books, Psychoanalysis and Society and The Family in Texas, which he edited. Following retirement as a TCU Emeritus professor in 1988, Arthur continued to teach part time at several universities and colleges, and he reviewed books regularly for the Fort Worth Star Telegram. In recognition of his contributions to the TCU social work program, continuing during retirement, his university colleagues established a social work scholarship in his name in 2001. During retirement, Arthur and his wife Miriam also traveled widely, visiting various countries in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe and South America, as well as traveling in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. At various times as a hobby, Arthur taught chess to children and adults, and he played a mean game of chess himself. Bobby Fisher never beat him. He also played tennis, and loved most types of music, especially classical (Beethoven in particular), Broadway musicals and Gilbert & Sullivan. He read extensively, supported progressive politics, revered Shakespeare (and quoted him often), admired the intellect of Darwin and the insights of Freud. He also had a great sense of humor, and enjoyed puns, satire, and the Marx Brothers. Berliner was predeceased by Miriam, his beloved wife of nearly 67 years, in 2009. He is survived by his daughters Susan Smith (Larry), Debra Berliner (and son-in-law Alan Schuyler) of Austin, and Sharon Berliner of Houston, three granddaughters and two great-granddaughters. Always interested in contributing to the advancement of knowledge, Arthur donated his mortal remains to scientific research. Arthur's family is grateful to the staff at The Plaza at Querencia for the compassionate care they gave him during his last years. They are also very thankful to Dr. Caitlin Giesler, Dr. Eric Giesler, and Dr. Edith Simmons who provided outstanding medical care with unsurpassed kindness. Memorial donations may be made to the Dr. Arthur K. Berliner Scholarship fund, Texas Christian University, Box 297044, Fort Worth, Texas 76129.