Marvin Sontag, a former TC Associate Professor of Psychology and Education who taught research methods and statistics, passed away on November 11. He was 79.

Sontag, whose scholarly interests included testing, evaluation and multinational research, taught thousands of students at TC and was thesis advisor to more than 100 doctoral candidates – many of whom, family members recalled, mentored many of them at his family’s kitchen table.

Before coming to TC, Sontag taught research design and measurement at New York University and at City College. He left the Bureau of Educational Research of the New York City Board of Education to join the TC’s Department of Psychology. There he taught methods of empirical research and participated in the work of the College’s Head Start Evaluation Center.

He was involved on a continuing basis in numerous evaluations of educational programs in areas such as physician’s training, computer-assisted instruction, and minority youth services programs. This work was carried out in conjunction with school systems, hospitals and national youth service organizations.

Sontag authored or co-authored papers and publications as varied as “Attitudes Toward Education and Perception of Teacher Behaviors” to “Workers' Tolerance for Bureaucratic Structure: The Development and Validation of a Scale.”

Sontag retired from TC in 1998, but continued to teach as an adjunct professor another 11 years.

He was a member of the National Council on Measurement in Education.

Sontag, who lived in Oceanside, New York is survived by his wife of 56 years, Sandra H. Sontag; daughters Sherry; Lauren and her husband Michael; his son Avi and his wife Freyda; his brother Sheldon; 14 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren and son-in-law Yedidiah. His daughter Aviva died six years ago.  Dr. Sontag was buried at sunset November 11, at Beth David Cemetery in Elmont, Queens. Donations in his honor can be made to Congregation Darchei Noam, 3310 Woodward Street, Oceanside, NY 11572.

Published Friday, Nov. 16, 2012