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September 28, 2000

OBITUARY: A. David Lazovik

A. David Lazovik, professor emeritus and former chair of the Department of Psychology, died Sept. 19, 2000. He was 79.

Lazovik earned all of his degrees at Pitt: his B.S. in 1943, his master's in 1945 and his Ph.D. in psychology in 1947. In the same year he earned his doctorate he was appointed an assistant professor in Pitt's Department of Psychology, and remained as a full-time member of the faculty until his retirement in 1984. He served as department chair from 1974 until 1980.

Lazovik's field was clinical psychology and his metier was teaching. He was considered the outstanding clinical teacher, as many letters and comments from his former students attest. His seminars and practica were eagerly sought out and attended. Although he did not consider himself a research psychologist, he attained national and international recognition for his seminal work, done in collaboration with his friend and colleague, Peter Lang, on the use of desensitization training for the treatment of phobias. That work is considered a cornerstone in the literature on the use of behavior modification in clinical therapies.

As department chair, Lazovik used his clinical skills to listen carefully to faculty and students, and always attempted to act with fairness and in the best interests of the department and the students. Among his many accomplishments as chair, he was probably proudest of the number and quality of the minority faculty and graduate students recruited during his chairmanship. Over 20 African-American students received Ph.D.s in psychology while he was chair.

Outside of academia, Lazovik enjoyed many leisure activities. In his younger days as a graduate student and assistant professor, he was active on the departmental baseball and softball teams. An excellent dancer, he was generally spotted on the dance floor at departmental parties.

He delighted in his family and in his home, for which he designed some of the furniture; and he especially delighted in the companionship and support of his wife of 40 years, Grace French Lazovik, also a member of the psychology department, director of the University Testing Service and developer of the forms and procedures for the rating of instructors by their students.

The Lazoviks traveled widely, but they especially loved the ocean, where they could walk the sand together.

In addition to his wife, Lazovik is survived by his children, A. David Lazovik, Jr. of Columbus; Deborah Elizabeth Clark and Mark Steven Lazovik, both of Santa Fe; by six grandchildren and one great-grandson. He also is sorely missed by his many friends.

A memorial service was held on Sept. 23 in Fearrington Village, N.C.

— Merle Moskowitz

Editor's note: Merle Moskowitz, an associate of Lazovik's, is a professor emeritus of psychology.

Filed under: Feature,Volume 33 Issue 3

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