HARRIET B. PRESSER

HARRIET PRESSER Obituary

HARRIET B. PRESSER
On May 1, 2012, Harriet B. Presser passed away with her daughter, Sheryl, and Harriet's partner of 32 years, Phil Corfman, by her side. Harriet was a distinguished University Professor of Sociology at the University of Maryland, College Park. Her work helped transform the field of demography by bringing a gender perspective to bear on the study of fertility and family processes. She was elected President of the Population Association of America for 1989. The Association named an award in her honor in 2008, to be given to recognize career contributions to the study of gender in demography. In 2010 she was awarded the American Sociological Association's Jessie Bernard Award for work that "enlarged the horizons of sociology to encompass fully the role of women in society". At Maryland, she had founded the Center for Population, Gender and Social Inequality, and was awarded the Dean's Medal for meritorious service to the college. A service was held in New York on Friday, May 4, 2012 at the Plaza Jewish Community Chapel. In early summer, Sheryl and Phil will hold a service in celebration of Harriet's life in Rockville. In lieu of flowers, you may donate to the graduate student Fellowship Fund that Harriet had established. Checks should be made out to the University of Maryland College Park Foundation with Harriet B. Presser Fellowship Fund, Account #: 21-40452 in the memo line, and sent to: University of Maryland College Park Foundation Inc., Office of Gift Acceptance Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center, College Park, MD 20742

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Washington Post on May 6, 2012.

Memories and Condolences
for HARRIET PRESSER

8 Entries

Reeve Vanneman

May 20, 2012

There will be a memorial service for Harriet at the David C. Driskell Center on Sunday, June 10 at 3pm.

There is an announcement on the Sociology home page,
http://www.bsos.umd.edu/socy/
where there are also links to nice tributes from the BSOS College, from Phil Cohen's blog familyinequality, from the Jessie Bernard award presentation, and from the PAA honoree page.

Marina Adler

May 19, 2012

With Harriet's passing we lost a true trailblazer in the sociology of gender, work and family intersections. Her wonderful mentorship has shaped innumerable scholars, including myself. I am very grateful for the opportunity to get to know her as her student and later as a colleague. We will miss her but her work will live on.

May 15, 2012

Phil and Sheryl

Early in the 1970s I first met Harriet when we served together on a peer review committee at NICHD. During that experience I soon recognized her scholarly and research talents. After coming to the University of Maryland I asked Harriet if she would be interrested in joining our departmet. When she accepted our offer it proved to be a turning point fot the department, because Harriet, single handedly, gave our program national prominence in demography. Now, more than a quarter of a century later, her imprint on the Maryland Sociology department is still in evidence. As one member of the department during that 1970's period I want to say we greatly appreciate Harriet's contributions.

On a more personal level I want to join the many of her friends in saying that we will miss her. For Sonia and myself I send our thoughts and sympathy to you Phil and Sheryl.

Ken Kammeyer

Myra Marx Ferree

May 11, 2012

I just heard about Harriet's passing -- her contributions to gender studies were legion and her personal inspiration substantial. She did "intersectional" research on PR reproduction politics long before the term was created. She was a brilliant and generous feminist, and will be missed by many colleagues who never knew her family nor were known to them.

William McGuire

May 9, 2012

Phil and Sheryl:
I know these are very hard times for you but you must know that Harriet is in a better place. She was remarkable in her ability to fight her disease with energy remaining to continue to pursue her academic interests. It was truly my honor to have cared for her.

May 9, 2012

Phil and Sheryl,
I am so glad we got to finish our knitting project. I will miss our talks sharing our cohort experience.
My thoughts are with you both.
Barbara Altman

May 7, 2012

Dear Phil,

All of us at NWHN are very sorry for your loss. Cindy Pearson

Jerald Hage

May 7, 2012

Dear Phil:

When I saw you last, I did not realize that Harriet was dying when I asked how she was. I regret that I did not get an opportunity to say goodby to her.

She was a remarkable woman and gave a great deal to the study of gender.

My thoughts are with you,

Jerry Hage

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