Aureet Bar-Yam died at the age of 33, on January 7, 1991 after a tragic drowning accident as she tried to rescue her dog at Sandy Pond in the town of Lincoln, MA. The Aureet Memorial Foundation was established to memorialize Aureet, and to enhance public safety to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Public safety activities organized by the Bar-Yam family and the Aureet Memorial Committee include:
• In 1994 and 1995, the Bar-Yam family sponsored ice rescue training events for police and fire fighters from towns throughout Massachusetts. The training was done by Dive Rescue International whose experts were brought by the Bar-Yams from Colorado. About 80 participants received intensive training that prepared and certified them to become trainers themselves. This program has enabled the new trainers to create teams of rescuers in Massachusetts and other New England states.
• In January of 1995, the Bar-Yams met with the Secretary of Public Safety and the Director of the Firefighting Academy regarding further activities for improving public safety. The Secretary and the Academy Director pledged their support for the Bar-Yam’s public safety initiatives.
• The Bar-Yams subsequently met with the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, the Massachusetts Public Safety Divers Association, and the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy together with concerned police officers and firefighters from state and local departments to plan and organize a comprehensive conference for those involved in rescue work, in the hope of creating active rescue teams everywhere in New England. Since 1997 the conference has become an annual event.
• In 1996, WBZ TV in Boston presented a special program on ice dangers and the work done on ice rescue, including the training sponsored by the Bar-Yams over the past few years. Also the Southeastern MA channel for community service presented an hour long program emphasizing the importance of this ice rescue work. These programs are valuable resources for the development of a video on ice safety for school children.
Aureet Bar-Yam was a promising psychologist, and dedicated therapist and counselor. She had remarkably diverse creative talents and was an engaging, warm, dynamic person. She deeply touched the lives of those who knew her. As a psychologist she made a significant contribution to the field in her published theory of Interpersonal stages of Development. She was extremely bright; graduated Summa Cum Laude from Boston University; received a Masters degree from Harvard and a Doctorate from Boston University. As a therapist and a counselor Aureet was a caring, responsive, resourceful professional who was admired by colleagues, clients and directors in the clinics where she worked. Aureet was artistically gifted; her paintings are filled with exciting, colorful and vibrant portrayals of life. She was also a perceptive, imaginative writer; her poetry and other writings convey a deep insight and perspective on people and the world. She was enthusiastic about everything she did, thriving on the challenges of life. She excelled at skiing, swimming and dance; enjoyed traveling and exploring; taking long walks in nature; and spending genial time with her family and friends.
Aureet's friends, colleagues, and clients have formed, together with her family, a Memorial Committee to bring the creativity, insights, and vitality of her achievements to the public.
Because of the breadth and diversity of Aureet's pursuits and interests and the many ways she inspired people, the Aureet Memorial Committee has undertaken a variety of projects dedicated to her memory and to enriching the lives of others through experiences related to her special gifts.
Memorial events organized by the Aureet Memorial Committee have included:
• Exhibits of Aureet's paintings at: Boston University, Lincoln Public Library, MIT, Jewish Community Center, and Newton Public Library.
• Publication of a book of Aureet's poetry, stories, letters, diary excerpts, photographs, paintings and tributes by those who knew her.
• Publication of greeting cards with Aureet’s paintings and poetry.
• Lectures on topics related to Aureet's theory and professional interests at: Boston University, International Council of Psychologists, Charles River Counseling Center, MetroWest Medical Center, Facing History and Ourselves, and other institutions.
• Publication of Aureet's research, academic and professional writings.
• A plaque placed near the site of the accident at Sandy Pond.
• Annual walks around Sandy Pond on September 8 (Aureet's birthday).
For further information on the tireless efforts of the Foundation and the Bar-Yam family please contact them at:
Aureet Memorial Committee
Public Safety and Memorial Activities12 Lake Terrace, Newton, MA 02459
Telephone: (617) 969-5538,
E-mail: zbaryam@umassd.edu