Missing Prof's Body Found In Harbor

Winthrop police found the body of Professor of Education and Social Psychology Lawrence Kohlberg earlier this week, bringing to an end a three-month investigation into his disappearance.

Kohlberg's body was discovered in Boston Harbor on Monday. The 59-year-old Kohlberg had been missing since January 17 when Winthrop police found his wallet and unlocked car at the Harbor.

Colleagues said they suspect he might have committed suicide, although police have not yet declared a cause of death.

Dean of the Ed School Patricia A. Graham said that a memorial service will be held for the late professor sometime this spring and a commemoration will be held next year in honor of the professor who had taught at Harvard since 1968.

"There's no carbon copy of Larry Kohlberg," she said, "His contributions were unique."

David Ricks, a psychology professor at theUniversity of Cincinnati who has worked withKohlberg, said the late professor Kohlberg, saidthe late professor "was the brightest person I'veever "was the brightest person I've ever known inmy lifetime and the best person among U.S.psychologists, the one who best extended hiswork."

Ricks, who also attended college with Kohlberg,remembered him as with Kohlberg, remembered him as"kind of a rebel, one who would stand up forsomething if integrity was at issue."

Dudley F. Blodgett, external relations directorat the Education School, called Kohlberg was "anarchitect of the field of moral education."Although some people have disputed Kohlberg'stheories, he was the greatest contributor to thefield of moral dilemmas, Blodgett said.

David Gutmann, a professor of psychiatry andeducation at North-western University who hasknown Kohlberg since the end of World War II,described Kohlberg as a genius and complicatedperson.

Gutmann, who worked with Kohlberg for a yeartogether on a retired navy vessel in the JewishUnderground, said he was not surprised to hearthat Kohlberg committed suicide because theprofessor had many mood swings throughout theyears.

Kohlberg was born in Bronxville, New York. Hereceived his B.A. and Ph.D. in psychology from theUniversity of Chicago. He was most noted for hiswork in the development of moral judgement,colleagues said.

After serving in the merchant marine in WorldWar II, Kohlberg helped Jewish refugees flee fromFrance and enter Palestine illegally, Gutmannsaid.

Kohlberg is survived by two sons, DavidKohlberg of New York, and Steven Kohlberg ofBoulder, Colorado and his former wife, Lucille