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MCC Daily Tribune Archive

Passing of Louis Surgent


I am deeply saddened to inform you that Louis Surgent, professor emeritus, psychology, passed away on November 24, 2007. Lou, who retired from MCC in July 1979, was a dedicated faculty member. He was known to devote large amounts of time and energy making himself available to students. It was during those face-to-face discussions with individual students that he made many of his most profound contributions here.

Lou came to MCC in September 1971 armed with a B.S. and M.A. from CCNY and certification as a psychologist. By then, he had retired from a distinguished career. During World War II, he developed production processes and methodologies at RCA that improved the quality and production efficiency of military radios for the war effort. At General Dynamics (GD), he developed the first set of human factor research tools for evaluating military pilots. Lou also pioneered research measuring stress and its impact on speech parameters and biometric data. Eventually, some of his research was adopted by the Intelligence community.

In 1970, Lou co-founded Stochastic Systems, a communications research organization. He helped develop a 911 system for Monroe County. A rare and talented person who was moved to action by concerns which transcended his own self interests, he served on many college committees and was a frequent presenter and guest speaker at regional and national professional conferences.

Predeceased by his wife, Elizabeth and three siblings Frank, Catherine and Marie, Lou is survived by son, Louis (Shirley) Surgent, Jr.; daughter, Andrea (Donald) Oestreich; son, Robert Surgent and longtime companion, Renee Webster; as well as grandchildren,  Ronald, Donna, Michael, Kathy, Doug, Josh and Chelsey.  He leaves behind in loving memory, Jean Wetzel.

R. Thomas Flynn
President's Office
02/05/2008