Dr. Judith S Mearig

Mearig, Dr. Judith S.

Ithaca: Dr. Judith S. Mearig, age 76, died peacefully on May 14, 2012 at Kendal At Ithaca, NY after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. Dr. Mearig was a native of Temple, PA and the daughter of the late Luther B. and Erma V. (Angstadt) Mearig. Dr. Mearig graduated from Muhlenberg High School, Class of 1953, and Oberlin College in 1957, going on to get her Master's Degree in 1960 and her Pd.D. in 1964, both from the University of Michigan. As part of her time at Oberlin, she spent a year at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland, where her lifelong love of the country and its people began. After completing her doctorate, Dr. Mearig became a longtime resident of Potsdam, NY where she was Professor of Educational Psychology and Founder/Coordinator of the Graduate Program in School Psychology at St. Lawrence University. Dr. Mearig had a distinguished career in her field, becoming a fellow in the American Psychological Association and the American Orthopsychiatric Association. She had a great passion for the welfare of children with disabilities and published widely on subjects related to ethical issues and dilemmas facing psychologists and other professionals working with children. Dr. Mearig also had a long and positive relationship with the International Center for Cognitive Development in Jerusalem, Israel. Outside of her career, Dr. Mearig had a great love for photography. She was also Deacon at the Potsdam Presbyterian Church and she chaired Potsdam's Bosnian Refugee Resettlement Task Force between 1992 and 1997. In 1998, Dr. Mearig retired to the Kendal community, where she served on the board of directors for the Ithaca Community Child Care Center and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Ithaca. Dr. Mearig is survived by her sister, Sandra (Mearig) Mills; her brother-in-law, William Mills; her niece, Susan Mills-Kasopsky; and three great nephews, Kevin, Steven, and Shaun Kasopsky, all of Berks County, PA. Dr. Mearig is also survived by her niece, Lisa Mills; and two great nephews, Juan and Andres Mills, all of Madison, WI. A graveside burial service will be held Friday, May 18, 2012, at 3 p.m. at Laureldale Cemetery located at 4631 Pottsville Pike, Reading, PA 19605. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 19, 2012, at 2 p.m. at Kendal At Ithaca located at 266 Savage Farm Dr., Ithaca, NY 14850. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to National Parkinson Foundation, 1501 N.W. 9th Ave., Miami, FL 33136-1494. Bangs Funeral Home will be assisting the family.