Samuel J. Messick, distinguished research scientist at Educational Testing Service, died Oct. 6, 1998, of congestive heart failure at the U. of Pennsylvania Medical Center in Philadelphia. He was 67. A 1950 undergraduate alumnus of the U. of Pennsylvania, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, Samuel earned his master's and doctorate in psychology at Princeton in 1953 and 1954 while a psychometric fellow at ETS.

He joined ETS full time in 1956 and stayed for the rest of his professional life. His contributions to psychometrics and allied areas of psychological testing were fundamental and extensive. He was promoted and honored often at ETS and honored by the American Psychological Assn., the American Educational Research Assn., and the Psychometric Society. In 1994 ETS cited him for his long service; according to colleagues, "With his encyclopedic knowledge and engaging manner, Sam has been a superb mentor to several generations of measurement professionals at ETS. He served as a trusted advisor to all four ETS presidents. They, as many others, have benefited from Sam's wise counsel on a broad range of technical issues as well as on such matters as top restaurants, fine wines, and interesting travel destinations."

A devoted family man, he is survived by his wife, Betty, two daughters, two sons, six grandchildren, and a sister, Pearl Wechter.

The Graduate Alumni