Skeptical community laments loss of Barry Beyerstein, psychologist, CSI council member

Barry Lane Beyerstein, a professor of psychology at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia and a longtime member of the Executive Council of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI), died on June 25.

He died of a massive heart attack in his university office at the age of sixty. An immense sadness is felt by all who knew him and have been influenced by his life and work. He was an exemplary and extraordinary human being.

Barry Beyerstein's contributions to the science, skeptic, and rationalist communities are unparalleled. He was a tireless defender of science, an activist who had been a staple in the media, television, newspapers, and public forums. He spent several decades volunteering his time and knowledge to CSI. He was a CSI Fellow, a member of CSI's Executive Council and the Editorial Board of the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, and contributed countless articles to our many publications. He traveled and lectured all over the world (including China) for our organization and played an important role in our faculty lineup for the Center for Inquiry Institute. He will be especially missed at this summer's Skeptic's Toolbox in Eugene, Oregon, where he had served on a six-member faculty panel since its inception in 1989.

Barry was best known for his work in psychology, especially the unconscious, the psychology of belief, neuropathology, brain states, and the like. He also contributed to the advancement of skepticism in the fields of graphology (he co-edited with his brother Dale The Write Stuff. Evaluations of Graphology--The Study of Handwriting Analysis, Prometheus Books, 1992), psychic phenomena, near-death experiences, alternative medicine, critical thinking, and more. On a more personal note, Barry was an amazing man. He was kind and down to earth, had a wonderful sense of humor, and was definitely in touch with his inner child. He was an absolute joy to be around.

Barry leaves behind a beautiful and talented family who exhibit so many of the great qualities he possessed. His wife, Suzi, has played an important role at our events, and together they were an inspiration. Our love and deepest sympathies go out to his family: his wife, his daughter Lindsay, his son Loren, and his brother Dale. We will miss Barry each and every day, but we are honored to have known and worked with him.

The Center for Inquiry celebrated his life and work. A special tribute was organized for this year's Skeptic's Toolbox at the University of Oregon at Eugene, August 9-12. We also have the honor of creating an online archive of many of his papers and presentations on the CSI Web site.

Amanda Chesworth is the educational director and Barry Karr is the executive director of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry.

COPYRIGHT 2007 Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning