Obituary of Blossom Zelda Fisher Aberg

Blossom Zelda Fisher Aberg, 92, of State College, died on Saturday, July 2, 2016 at Foxdale Village. Born in Chicago on December 11, 1923, Ms. Aberg was the daughter of Alex and Helen Siegel Fisher. She graduated from New Trier High School in Wilmette, Illinois in 1941, received a B.A. and M.S. from the University of Wisconsin in Madison in 1946 and 1947, in psychology and education. During her first year at the University of Wisconsin she met Gil Aberg. They were married on July 17, 1943 while he was stationed at the University of Maryland. After he was sent overseas to the Pacific and after a short period of work in New York City, she returned to Madison, Wisconsin and completed her undergraduate and graduate degrees. Following the receipt of her Master's Degree Ms. Aberg, in l947-48, worked as a psychologist for the Los Angeles County Juvenile Hall. In 1948-1951 she was employed as Chief Psychologist for the Illinois Children's Hospital-school and Chief Psychologist for the North Shore Mental Health Clinic (1952-54) After a move to Pennsylvania she was employed by the Pennsylvania State University on and off during 1957 through 1967, for the Psychology and Speech and Hearing Departments. She was on the staff of The Counseling Service, Inc. from 1963 to 1967. From 1968 to 1973 she was employed by the Centre County Board of Education and later by the Central Intermediate Unit (#10) as psychologist on the Diagnostic and Consultative Team. From 1973 to 1992, when she retired, she was Director of Pupil Personnel Services for the State College Area School District. She was available for private consultation as a psychologist during this time and later. She was involved in the development of Wellsprings, a plan for Psychological Growth.. Working jointly with Patricia Best, (later Superintendent of the State College Area School District) they focused on wellness. The plan made use of the anticipation of growth, transitions and the problems of living as well as the pleasures and joys found during life rather than only pathology, as in most emotional education programs. Among her volunteer activities was serving as a board member, president and mediator (1982 - 2005) for the Center for Alternatives in Community Justice (CACJ). Starting with the aftermath, in 1992, of Hurricane Iniki in Hawaii she served as an American Psychological Services volunteer during six national disasters. She served as a Disaster Mental Health Technician or Specialist in Maine, Arkansas, Key West and, following 9/11, in Shanksville , Pa, and New York City. As a member since the beginning of the Jewish Community Council she served on boards and committees. She later served on the board of Congregation Brit Shalom and Hillel at Penn State University. Ms. Aberg also served on committees of the American Psychological and Pennsylvania Psychological Associations. She received Community Volunteer Awards in 1999 and 2000 for CACJ and the Centre Communities Chapter of the American Red Cross. In 2004 she received the Helen J. Small award from the American Red Cross. In 1986 Ms. Aberg received a fellowship with John Kerry with support from the Esther Katz Rosen Fund of the American Psychological Foundation. The fellowship was to a subcommittee on The Handicapped of the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee. Among the organizations to which she belonged were The American Psychological Association (beginning with 1950), The Pennsylvania Psychological Association, The Pennsylvania and National Associations of Pupil Personnel Administrators. Survivors include her husband, Gil Aberg of State College, PA; daughter Miriam and husband Thomas Gavigan, of Reading, PA., and their children Daniel, David and Ian; son, Jerrold of State College, PA; son, Steven and his wife Beth Genther Aberg and their sons, Alexander and Nicholas, of Mclean Virginia; son, Ethan, and his son, Simon, and daughter, Monica, of Phoenix, AZ; and daughter, Rachel and her children, Olivia, Aubrey and Louis, of Allentown, PA. A service will be held at 11:00a.m. on Wednesday, July 6, 2016 at Koch Funeral Home, 2401 S. Atherton St., State College. Burial will be in Centre County Memorial Park, State College. Memorial contributions may be directed to House of Care, 515 W Beaver Ave, State College, PA 16801, or American Red Cross Disaster Fund, PO Box 37839, Boone, IA 50037 or www.redcross.org, in memory of Blossom Zelda Fisher Aberg. Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home, State College. Online condolences and signing of the guest book may be entered at www.kochfuneralhome.com.