Dirk Phillip Magwitz

Athens - Dirk Phillip Magwitz, 39, formerly of Cape Girardeau, Mo., died at his home in Athens, Ga., on Wednesday, April 15, 2009.
Dirk was a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) in the state of Georgia. His area of specialization was working with mindfulness-based therapies, specifically Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) with individuals and couples. Dirk received a Bachelor of Arts in Management from Saint Mary's College of California, San Francisco, and a Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling from Georgia State University in Atlanta. Dirk was currently in the Marriage and Family Therapy doctoral program in the Department of Children and Family Therapy at University of Georgia at Athens, where he was a recipient of the distinguished Presidential Fellowship. Dirk was a student member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy and a clinical member of the American Counseling Association. He had numerous professional publications and presentations. He was also a meditation practitioner and teacher and a member of the World Service Intergroup.
For four years, Dirk worked in San Francisco in the motion picture industry as assistant director/production manager on such projects as Nash Bridges and Mars Attacks.
Survivors include his mother, Donna Kurre Magwitz of Cape Girardeau; his sister, Gretchen Magwitz Pierce, and brother-in-law, Nathan Pierce, of Ridgway, Colo.; his aunt, Dottie Kurre Dwyer, and uncle, John Dwyer, of St. Louis; and his cousins, Michael Dwyer of St. Louis and Jeffrey Dwyer of Chicago. He was preceded in death by his father, Donald G. Magwitz.
Dirk will be greatly missed by family, many friends and colleagues. Memorial suggestions include Good Shepherd Lutheran Chapel in Cape Girardeau and an Arch Foundation Account in the Marriage and Family Therapy Program (payable to the Arch Foundation) in care of Jerry Gale, Department of Child and Family Development, Dawson Hall, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602.
Memorial services will be Tuesday, April 21, 2009, at 1 p.m. at Good Shepherd Lutheran Chapel with Rev. Barry Pfanstiel officiating. Visitation will be Monday, April 20, 2009, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Ford & Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel. Interment will be at Cape County Memorial Park & Mausoleum.