Remembering June Kennedy
June Kennedy, Ph.D. passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 26, 2017 at the age of 80. Dr. Kennedy received her Ph.D. in Audiology from Wayne State University, and was in private practice in Orlando for over 30 years. Dr. Kennedy was a pioneer as one of the first Ph.D.s and women in private practice in Florida. She was active in the profession and served as President of the Florida Language, Speech and Hearing Association. She was a mentor and friend to many.
Remembering Marc Trychel
In January of 2014, Dr. Marc Trychel, a true leader in the local audiology community passed away. Marc served as Chair of the Audiology Standards committee for FLASHA in 1990 and later served on the Inaugural Executive Board of the Florida Academy of Audiology. Marc was the FLAA’s first President (both in 1997 and 1998) which flourishes today because of his exhaustive efforts. Only Marc could singlehandedly reschedule a state association meeting after it was canceled by a hurricane in one of FLAA’s initial years. He began his private practice when many audiologists had not yet found the bravery to take the plunge into owning their own business. Marc was a true trailblazer. Audiology in the state of Florida and the country is so much better because of him. In memory of Marc, Florida Academy of Audiology awards one student from each Florida university the “Marc Trychel Future Leader Award” at the annual Convention.
To view the video tribute for Marc, please click here.
Remembering Gail Gegg Rosenberg
Our audiology community has lost a pioneer, colleague and friend. Gail Gegg Rosenberg passed away peacefully in the arms of her beloved husband Bernard this week in Sarasota, Florida. Over the past year, she faced her diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer with the same grace, dignity and selfless caring for others that shaped her professional career in the field of audiology. Gail was a leader who encouraged so many of us to pursue audiology with conviction and creativity, always posing challenges and guiding by her example. From her early experiences as an educational audiologist in Sarasota, Florida, Gail was an advocate for students and families experiencing the impact of hearing loss and auditory dysfunction. She believed that our role as audiologists was not limited to the clinic, the classroom, industry or boardroom.
The diversity of Gail’s talents (including her singing and acting in the FLASHA reviews over the years) and her collaboration with manufacturing, engineering and marketing brought habilitative recommendations to implementation through her professional affiliation with Light Speed Inc. Gail’s diverse 35 year career in audiology was characterized by her visionary contributions to patient and family care, educational audiology, community and professional advocacy, and her scholarly endeavors of clinical research and publications. In her role as instructor and preceptor in the Arizona Distance Learning Curriculum and in countless state and national presentations and workshops Gail contributed to the continuing education of Doctors of Audiology nationwide. The memories of Gail’s passion for our profession, her communication abilities, wit and humor, her passion for life’s adventures, and appreciation of personal and professional relationships are the legacy that she leaves us.
Remembering Robert J. Harrison, Ph.D.
1928 – 2010
Florida has lost an iconic audiologist with the passing of Robert J. Harrison, Ph.D., August 18th at his St. Petersburg home at the age of 81. Dr. Harrison was born November 22, 1928 in Anthony, Kansas. He received a B.A. in Logopedics from University of Wichita in 1951 and a Ph.D. in Audiology from Northwestern University in 1962. He moved his family to Coral Gables in 1962, where he served as Director of the Audiology Clinic, Professor of Speech and Hearing Sciences, and Chief, Division of Audiology and Speech Pathology at the University of Miami School of Medicine. Dr. Harrison was professionally active his entire career, both on the state and national level. He was president of the Florida Speech and Hearing Association 1966-67, and was instrumental in the political process that resulted in Florida becoming the first state to regulate the practice of audiology in 1969. Dr. Harrison was one of the Founding Members of the American Academy of Audiology in 1988. He was a strict and demanding professional that expected nothing less than excellence from employees and colleagues. He would also welcome new graduates into the field, provide guidance and mentoring, and make them feel a part of the professional community. He was a true friend to the many that knew him, and was well respected and admired among his professional peers. His friendship among audiologists was such that he performed the marriage ceremonies for several Florida audiologists, including John Seamens and Gay Ratcliff, Mike and Tracy Adamowicz, and Fred and Pilar Rahe. Dr. Harrison is survived by his wife Maurine of Coral Gables, Florida, three children and four grandchildren. He was truly a legend, the Father of Audiology in Florida, and will be missed by all who knew him.