Dr. Preston S. Abbott

PRESTON S. ABBOTT  
Dr. Preston S. Abbott, research psychologist and independent consultant to the U.S. government and private industry died of congestive heart failure on June 9, 2011 at Mount Vernon Hospital. He was 88. A native of Peabody, Massachusetts, he received a BA degree from Bates College, a Masters degree from the University of Hawaii, and a PhD in physiological psychology from Brown University. The latter two degrees were awarded following World War II service and hospitalization resulting from injuries sustained while serving in the crew of a B-24 heavy bomber. Returning from its 25th mission Dr. Abbott's aircraft was shot down while over Yugoslavia. Surviving members of the crew were rescued by Yugoslav partisan forces and expatriated to their Italian base.Dr. Abbott's professional career included research at the Human Resources Research Organization (HumRRO) beginning in 1955. He continued his relationship with HumRRO in a variety of research and managerial positions over the next five decades. In addition to his work at HumRRO, Dr. Abbott served as director of the American University's Center for Research in Social Systems from 1970 to 1975. In 1975, he founded Abbott Associates, a consulting firm that conducted research for the Kingdom of Jordan, the Defense Nuclear Agency, the U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force. He is a Fellow in the American Psychological Association. Dr. Abbott is survived by his wife Barbara Beattie Abbott, children Judy, David, and Mark and four grandchildren. Services private.