SGS GRITS Hall of Fame

GRITS Hall of Fame Member

2012 Inductee

Born in Rochester, NY, Dr. Streib completed his undergraduate degree at North Central College, Naperville, Illinois. As a conscientious objector during World War II, he built roads, served as a cook's helper, and volunteered for human hunger experiments.

He attended the New School of Social Research, received his master's degree in sociology, obtained his PhD from Columbia University and then began teaching at Cornell University. He was a recipient of two Fulbright scholarships and completed research on aging in Denmark and Ireland.

After twenty-six years teaching, he retired as Professor Emeritus in 1975. Shortly thereafter, he joined the University of Florida as a Graduate Research Professor of Sociology. He retired from the University of Florida as a Distinguished Research Professor Emeritus of Sociology in 1988.

He was a prolific author of numerous books, articles, book chapters. He was a Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America, Social Science Editor for the Journal of Gerontology, served on Board of Directors of Andrus Foundation, and later awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters by Waterloo University, Ontario, Canada.

Dr. Streib was honored by the Gerontological Society of America, received the "Distinguished Contributor to Sociology of Aging" from the American Sociological Association and founding member of the Southern Gerontological Society which named their Gordon F. Streib Distinguished Academic Gerontologist Award after him.

He was also instrumental in the development of Oak Hammock, a CCRC affiliated with the University of Florida. Dr. Streib and his wife Ruth were residents of Oak Hammock and were active participants in the residential community.

Mrs. Ruth Streib died just one day after he died. A family member said, "It was absolutely a blessing that they died so close together in time... because neither one would have wanted to go on without the other." His survivors include children, Nelson A. Streib, Larry Streib, Marshall G. Streib and Carol S. Nielsen and two grandchildren.