Gerald M. Phillips, 1928-1995
Centre Daily Times, Friday, April 28, 1995
GERALD M. PHILLIPS
Gerald M. Phillips, 66, of State
College, died Wednesday, April 26, 1995, at Centre Community Hospital.
He was born Dec. 1, 1928, in Cleveland, Ohio, a son of the
late Oscar
and Henrietta Swimer Phillips. On June 19, 1949, in Cleveland, Ohio, he
married Nancy Kolsen Phillips, who survives in State College.
A Professor Emeritus of Speech Communication at Penn State, he
was one of the most prolific researchers and writers in his field. He
chronicled his decade-long struggle with heart disease in a book
co-authored earlier this year with Dr. Robert Werman, "Living With Heart
Disease." It was the 45th book of his career. Several additional books,
including a biography, are in various stages of production. He also
published more than 100 articles in journals and scholarly books.
"Living With Heart Disease" and an earlier book co-authored with
Werman, "Notes from a Sealed Room: An Israeli View of the Gulf War," were
written using the Internet to communicate.
He earned his bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees from Western Reserve University, Cleveland,
Ohio.
He held visiting professorships at the University of Denver,
Northwestern University, Portland State University and the University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
While teaching at North
Dakota Agricultural College, Washington
State University, and Penn State, he directed more than 120 master's and
doctoral degrees. He taught at Penn State for 27 years.
In the 1980s, he began to teach undergraduate courses, graduate
courses and group discussions in speech communications by computer from
his home.
He experimented
with giving assignments, answering questions and grading the
work of hundreds of students, all through electronic mail.
During his career, Dr. Phillips developed courses aimed at helping
reticent public speakers, and in 1981 he published the book, "Help for
Shy People." Other books he authored include "Communicating With You
Doctor" (1988, with J. Alfred Jones, M.D.); "Teaching How Groups Work"
(1990) and "Communication Incompetence" (1990)
On his vitae he notes, among his claims to distinction, "I have four
children, all married and all gainfully employed. They pick up the check
approximately half the time. This, I feel, is my most noteworthy
accomplishment.
In addition to his wife, Dr. Phillips is survived by three daughters,
Judith M. Phillips of St. Paul, Minn., Ellen Prydekker of Wilmon Flat,
N.H., Abigail Karp of East Quogue, N.Y.; a son, Dean R. Phillips of
Philadelphia; a sister June Dapeer of Scottsdale, Ariz., and six
grandchildren.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Eloise B. Kyper Funeral
Home, State College. A memorial service will be announced at a later
date.
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