Edith Henderson Grotberg

(February 5, 1918 - May 20, 2008)

Edith Henderson Grotberg, a world renowned educational psychologist dedicated to promoting early childhood development and the human capacity for resilience, died on May 20, 2008, of pneumonia at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, DC.

Known as "Ede," Dr. Grotberg received her BA degree in Liberal Arts from Northwestern University in 1938 with the Virginia Shafer Scholarship and her MA in History from the University of Chicago in 1939. In the 1940’s she taught High School in Puerto Rico and then at the University of Puerto Rico and was a performing Soprano in the Municipal Opera of St. Louis, MO.

In the 1950’s, following employment as a social worker in Chicago, she returned to teaching - her career spanning the entire range of education as a first grade teacher at Oak School in Hinsdale, IL, then an upper grade teacher and principal at Cass School (K-8) in Darien, IL. Next, her love of children and their learning, growth, and challenges carried her to join the faculty of the Departments of Education and Psychology at Northern Illinois University in 1956 while also pursuing her PhD in the School of Education at Northwestern University, completing it in 1958 with a concentration on educational psychology. In 1963, she joined the faculty at American University in Washington, D.C., in the Department of Education, where she developed the nation’s first program for teaching children with learning disabilities. Also, while at American University she was honored as the Outstanding Professor and was elected President of the Faculty Senate. Further academic appointments were as an Adjunct Professor at Ahfad University for Women, Omdurman, Sudan; George Washington University, School of Public Health and Health Services, Washington, D.C.; and Georgetown University, School of Nursing and Health Sciences.

In 1965, she was selected to be the first Director of Research, and eventually Director of Research, Development, and Evaluation, for Project Head Start in the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. As part of her personal efforts, she led a program to repair reading disadvantaged children in Prince Georges County, VA, in the wake of Brown v. Board of Education.

Dr. Grotberg had many leadership roles in her field. She was a Board Member and then President (2003) of the International Council of Psychology. She was co-Chair of the United States Federal Interagency Committee for the International Year of the Child, 1978-1980, a United Nations initiative. She was a Senior Associate, Institute for Mental Health Initiatives (IMHI), Washington, D.C., and Managing Editor of Dialogue, published by IMHI. She created and was a Senior Scientist and Director of the International Resilience Research Project, Civitan International Research Center, University of Alabama, Birmingham. The resilience project involved researchers in over 30 countries. In addition, Dr. Grotberg was a member of the faculty of Curso Internacional de Acualizacion de Resiliencia, Universidad Nacional de Lanus Buenos Aires, Argentina and a member of the International Scientific Committee, International Academy of Law and Mental Health.

She has been recognized with the 1995 Knowledge Utilization Award for applying research knowledge to the promotion of resilience; First Prize in 1997 from the National Association of Mental Health Information Officers for issues of Dialogue; 1998 Achievement Award from the Institute for Mental Health Initiatives; American Psychological Association Presidential Citation for Scholarly Leadership, 2000; Ahfad Graduates Medal, 1983; Honorary Doctoral Degree from Ahfad University for Women, 2002; and, elected Fellow of the American Psychological Association 2007. Much of her international impact was through her work involving projects in collaboration with UNESCO, UNICEF, WHO, and PAHO.

Dr. Grotberg is survived by her devoted and loving husband, Dr. Lee Burchinal, her three children Sandra May Grotberg of Chambersburg, PA, Karen Jeanne (Grotberg) Weinberg of Asheville, NC, and Dr. James Bernard Grotberg of Ann Arbor, MI; and her three stepdaughters, Dr. Margaret “Peg” Burchinal, Janice Ellen Burchinal-O’Boyle, and Esther Lee Burchinal-McGinty. She was the proud and devoted grandmother of 13 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. She was the daughter of late James and Helen (Gallup) Henderson of Chicago, IL and sister of the late Bessie Margaret Rector of Greencastle, IN.

Memorial Service Information - The Grotberg-Burchinal families invite you to join us as we celebrate the life of Dr. Edith H. Grotberg, our loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, devoted friend and mentor to many, and inspiring colleague.

Location: Kay Spiritual Life Center, The American University, Nebraska & Massachusetts Avenues, NW, Washington, D.C.
Date and Time: Sunday, June 15, 2008, 3:00-4:00 p.m.
map, directions and parking

Memorial Contributions – :
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to made to the Sudan American Foundation for Education, marked for the Ahfad Scholarship Fund. The funds will be used to pay for scholarships of young women from Darfur and southern and eastern Sudan at the Ahfad University for Women where Dr. Grotberg and her husband, Dr. Lee Burchinal, taught for five years. Contributions, which are tax-deductible, may be mailed to:

SAFE
4141 N Henderson Road, Suite 1205
Arlington, VA 22203.

In addition to numerous publications in professional journals and popular magazines, Dr. Grotberg’s major publications include:

1. Creative Anger: Putting That Powerful Emotion to Good Use, with Rhoda Baruch & Suzanne Stutman. Praeger. 2008.

2. La resiliencia en el mundo de hoy. Gedisa. 2006.

3. Resilience for Today: Gaining Strength from Adversity. Praeger. 2003.

4. From Terror to Triumph: The Path to Resilience in Psychology of Terrorism: Coping with the Continuing Threat. Chris E. Stout, editor. Praeger. 2002.

5. Zwiekszanie odpornosci psychicznej. Wydawnictwo Akademickie Zak. 2000.

6. How to Deal with Anything. MJF Books. 1999.

7. Tapping Your Inner Strength: How to Find the Resilience to Deal with Anything. New Harbinger Publications, Inc. 1999.

8. A Guide to promoting resilience in children: strengthening the human spirit. Bernard van Leer Foundation. 1995.

9.Changing child-rearing practices in Sudan: an early stimulation experience; Child, family, community. Notes and comments of the Joint UNESCO/UNICEF Programme of Educational Assistance. UNESCO. 1987.

10. A Manual for teachers of young children and other ECCE personnel. Notes and comments of the Joint Unesco/UNICEF Programme of Educational Assistance, Digest no. 15 UNESCO. 1985.

11. Research -- translating findings into action. DHEW 1978.

12. Parent empowerment and public policy: new trends in reduction of socio-economic inequalities. Reports and studies for the study of development. UNESCO. 1981.

13. 200 years of children. DHEW. 1976.

14. Research, demonstration, and evaluation studies, fiscal year 1976. DHEW. 1976.

15. Toward interagency coordination: an overview of federal research and development activities relating to early childhood: Second annual report. DHEW. 1972.

16. Day care: resources for decisions. DHEW. 1971.

17. Critical Issues in Research Related To Disadvantaged Children. Editor. 1969.

18. Progressive choice reading instruction in the Prince Edward County School System: The Prince Edward County School Project 1966-1967. 1967.

19. Developing Your Vocabulary with Paul Witty. 1960.