LEIGH LISKER (1918—2006)

Laura Koenig
Comments on Leigh Lisker

I was, in a sense, Leigh Lisker's last student; I came to Penn because I wanted to learn how to do solid empirical work (my undergraduate years had been very theoretical), and the opportunity to do work at Haskins was a major draw for me. Dr. Lisker opened that door when, the summer of my first year at Penn, he said that I could help out on some work he and Arthur were doing at Haskins. I've been there ever since. Although I ended up finishing my degree at the CUNY Graduate Center (mainly so as to stay affiliated with Haskins after Leigh's retirement), the work I did in those early years was very much the backdrop for my own dissertation, and Lisker & Abramson 1964 is still a major citation (foundation) for much of what I write.

Beyond these things, I remember him for his wry sense of humor; the vast amount of knowledge he carried around in his head (not relying on his file cabinet as I must!); his intellectual standards, whereby reputation was no substitute for careful work, and at the same time students and established researchers were accorded the same degree of respect; and his steadfast--I don't know another word for it--feminism. Leigh understood more than many people the odd issues women face both in professional fields, and in society, across cultures. I truly wouldn't be where I am now without him. Leigh Lisker influenced many, many people all around the world; we bring what we learned from him to our ongoing research, and we continue to teach his work to our students.

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