Michael Wertheimer, Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Neuroscience, passed away on December 23, 2022, following complications related to a fall. He was 95 years old. Born in Berlin, Michael was six when his family escaped Nazi GermanyÌýjust asÌýHitler wasÌýrisingÌýto power. After his family immigrated to New York in 1933, Michael’s childhood was adventurous and stimulating, including frequent visits from close family friends, such as Albert Einstein and Solomon Asch.
After earning his PhD from Harvard University in 1952, Michael landed at Wesleyan University for a few years before accepting a faculty position at the University of Colorado in 1955. Initially researching cognition and psycholinguistics, he later enjoyed a well-deserved, international reputation as a leading historian of psychology. An author and editor of some 50 books, his celebrated volume onÌýA Brief History of PsychologyÌýappeared in six editions. He also co-authored a biography of his father, Max Wertheimer, the founder of Gestalt psychology. In 2020, he published his autobiography,ÌýFacets of an Academic's Life: A Memoir.
As an award-winning educator, Michael was a lively presence in the classroom, known for impersonating prominent figures in the history of psychology. During Q&A sessions with students, his portrayals demonstrated an encyclopedic-like knowledge of the field while also showcasing his wit and acting skill. He directed the departmental undergraduate honors program for almost 40 years and was president of four divisions of the American Psychological Association as well as president of Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology, and the Rocky Mountain Psychological Association. It was a memorable sight to find Michael hard at work in his UCB office, surrounded by organized stacks of papers and journals towering over his desktop.
Brimming with ageless energy, Mike was a dedicated scholar as well as an accomplished musician and polyglot with a robust appreciation for outdoor activities such as mountaineering, hiking, gardening, and skiing. He shared many of these activities with his remarkable wife, Marilyn Schuman Wertheimer. Both charming storytellers, the Wertheimers enjoyed international travel as well as photography, cinema, language, history, politics, and literature among countless other passions. Michael Wertheimer is survived by his wife as well as his beloved children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
D. Brett King, PhD
Teaching Professor of Distinction