Statistics professor dies but leaves behind positive memories

by Jamie Ramirez
Nov 19, 2013 11:56 am
Tags: Jamie Ramirez, Mike Abrams, Naomi Wagner, psychology, Ronald Rogers, statistics

Michael Abrams, a lecturer for the department of psychology at San Jose State University, died Nov. 1 at the age of 69.

Psychology Department Chair Ronald Rogers said Naomi Wagner, SJSU psychology instructor, knew Abrams well and were good friends.

“I met Mike when he first came to teach at SJSU in 2006,” Wagner said. “He was a newcomer and … we struck (up) a friendship right away. Mike was a very outgoing and engaging person.”

Wagner said the most fond thing she remembers about Abrams was his sense of humor and his ability to reframe and reevaluate difficult situations by thinking of them in a positive light.

Rogers said he received an email on Nov. 1 from Abrams' wife, June, about Abrams' death.

The cause of death is unknown because the family has not shared that information with the university, Rogers said.

“I went to the next class and met with the students to talk about it,” Rogers said. “It was a shock, it was so sudden and unexpected."

Abrams taught two sections of elementary statistics this semester, which have been taken over by two fellow department lecturers, and also taught general psychology for the department, Rogers said.

Rogers said Tuesday and Thursday sections of Abrams' elementary statistics class have been picked up by two other professors this term, Sean Laraway and Altovise Rogers.

“I don't know that we have set procedures, but we do notify the students right away and the faculty and the department,”  Rogers said. “I just try to make myself available for both students and faculty just in case they want to talk about it."

The obituary, published in The San Jose Mercury News on Nov. 8, was written by Abrams' family members, who wish not to be contacted at this time, and was reposted on the psychology department's webpage by Rogers.

An online guest book was created on Legacy's website and is linked to the psychology department's page for anyone who would like to leave a comment or message for Abrams' family.

A memorial event in honor of Abrams will be held at the SJSU Memorial Chapel on Dec. 8 at 2 p.m. for those who would like to join and honor his memory.

Wagner said she has minimal concerns with students transitioning to different instructors because "they are in good hands."

“They have a wonderful professor replacing Mike, Altovise Rogers Ph.D.,” Wagner said. “She is fully aware of the situation facing the students, both in terms of the shocking news and in terms of the need to get acquainted with a new instructor who may have a different style of teaching.”

Altovise Rogers has taken up the existing syllabus to continue Abrams' teaching plans, Wagner said.

Wagner said this loss should awaken something in everyone.

“His sudden departure should make all of us pause and contemplate the frailty of life, the finiteness of our existence and the need to find the silver lining behind any cloud,” Wagner said.