June 24th is St. John's Day and often you can find St. John's Wort blooming around here at this time of year. 7 years ago, it was on this day that my mother, Dr. Sybil G. deGroot passed away. She was 78 years old.
My mom was one of the most remarkable people you could ever meet; in her youth she had been a Rockette at the Radio City Music Hall, later she became the first woman in the U.S. to hold a Doctorate in Engineering Psychology (which is also known as Human Factors and Ergonomics).
To try to sum up her brilliant life and career in just a few sentences seems so inadequate and trite. After so many years I still can't find the words. Even what I wrote in my book isn't enough:"Those who knew her will agree, my mother led a most remarkable life. Highly intellectual and only sometimes circumspect about it, she was a curious blend of scientist and social butterfly. Her eyes flashed sage green whether engaged in scholarly pursuit or dancing a fandango on the neighbor's coffee table. I will always miss her."
I have been trying on and off for years to find out what happened to Dr. deGroot, and I was happy to find this post.
ReplyDeleteI had her as a professor at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana in the early 70's. I agree.....she was a dazzling presence. It was wonderful to have a woman psychologist as a role model. Vibrant, sassy and intellectually rigorous. She inspired me. I did go on to get a doctorate in clinical psychology, and I think of her often!