We are sad to report the passing of two esteemed Rossier colleagues, Dr. Robert L. (Bob) Baker and Dr. Leonard Murdy.
USC Rossier is hosting a memorial in honor of both on February 12 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at USC Town & Gown. Inquiries can be sent to rossier.events@usc.edu
Dr. Robert L. (Bob) Baker
Rossier Professor Emeritus Dr. Robert L. (Bob) Baker passed away on November 15, 2012 at age 85 from complications following a long battle with cancer, at home in Palos Verdes Estates, California.
In the late 1970s, Dr. Baker joined the faculty at the University of Southern California, where he remained active well into his eighties as Professor Emeritus of Psychology & Technology at the Rossier School of Education.
Bob was a mentor to his students, his family, associates and friends. His extensive interests, insight and intelligence and his genuine personal interest in the success of others was noted by many who knew him. His commitment to research for the purpose of improving instructional opportunity for public school students has left a lasting legacy.
He earned his Doctorate of Educational Psychology at the University of Nebraska (Lincoln), and joined the faculty at Arizona State University in 1955. In 1966, he was a founding director of the Southwest Regional Laboratory (SWRL) for educational research, shortly after which he and his family moved to Palos Verdes Estates where he became a volunteer at the local libraries while continuing to consult on projects for SWRL and the Los Angeles Unified School District.
Bob is survived by his wife, Mary, two children and their extended families.
> View Bob’s obituary and leave a message at LAFuneral.com.
Earlier this year Dean Gallagher visited Dr. Murdy
Dr. Leonard L. Murdy (BS ’48, MS ‘50, EdD ’62), Professor Emeritus at Rossier, recently passed away at the age of 90 at his home in Anaheim. The Dean had visited with Dr. Murdy earlier this year.
He was a preeminent faculty member during the tenure of Dean Irving Melbo, and was considered an authority in the field of educational administration. He spent twenty-five years as a public school administrator, twelve of which as a district Superintendent in the Fullerton Joint Union High School District. As a consultant, Dr. Murdy worked in over two hundred school districts in the area of Board-Superintendent working relationships. He was a valued member of the Dean’s Superintendents Advisory Group (DSAG).
