Remembering Gabriel D. Ofiesh

An ISPI Pioneer and Founding Member

Gabriel D. Ofiesh, 88, a retired Air Force colonel who was later a professor of educational technology at Catholic, American, and Howard universities, died August 2. He lived in Arlington.

Dr. Ofiesh made significant advances in the field of individualized instruction, with an emphasis on using computers and other forms of technology in education. He was the author of many publications on the subject, including a textbook, "Programmed Instruction: A Guide for Management."

Dr. Ofiesh was born in Beirut and came to the United States when he was 2. He grew up in New Kensington, PA, and graduated from the University of Pittsburgh. He later received a master’s degree in psychology from Columbia University and did graduate work at Purdue University and the University of Michigan. He received a doctorate in education from the University of Denver in the late 1940s.

He entered the Army Air Forces in 1942 and was a navigator during World War II. Later, when he was in the Air Force, he served as a psychological warfare officer and intelligence officer.

He was a psychology professor at the U.S. Air Force Academy from its inception in 1955 until 1960. He retired from the Air Force with the rank of colonel in 1965 and received the Legion of Merit for his contributions to military educational and training programs.

Dr. Ofiesh settled in Alexandria in 1963 before moving to Arlington in 1969. He worked as a consultant for a variety of federal agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, the Defense Systems Management College, the U.S. Postal Service and National Park Service. In conjunction with the Department of Labor, he helped design the methodology for vocational training programs used in Saudi Arabia.

In the 1970s, Dr. Ofiesh joined the faculty of Catholic University, where he was director of the Center for Educational Technology. He taught for several years at American University before becoming a member of the Howard University faculty, teaching educational technology. He retired in the late 1980s.

He was the founding president of the National Society for Programmed Instruction. He received many awards for contributions to instructional technology.

Since he retired, Dr. Ofiesh had been a member of several Arlington book clubs. For most of his life, he paid little attention to sports, but in his 80s he became a rabid fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

A son, Victor Ofiesh, died in 2005. Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Bess Ofiesh of Arlington; four children, David Ofiesh of Arlington, Gabriel D. Ofiesh II of Charlottesville, Philip Ofiesh of Falls Church and Rebecca Ofiesh of Kansas City, Mo.; two brothers; three sisters; and nine grandchildren.

Source: www.washingtonpost.com, August 16, 2007.

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