Jerry was a WWII veteran, a USAF retired Lieutenant Colonel, a professor at San Jose State University, and a leader in the field of instructional design. He was extraordinarily fit, hiking and maintaining an apple orchard until he was 89 years old. Jerry was a devoted husband and leaves his wife of 17 years, Edith Ankersmit and her family and his niece and nephew, Deborah Kemp and Ira Kemp
I had only truly begun to know you in the last twenty years of my, and your, life. The irony of the fact that you dedicated your life to teaching something I am fascinated by, the sadness once I got to know you of not knowing you longer and better, and the daily thoughts of how my life might have been further enriched by your bigger part in it- and perhaps yours by mine- succeed you. RIP.
With great sadness.
God blessed him.
A teacher .Iran
In a conversation at the AECT Convention in Ahaheim Dr. Kemp explained how he and others convinced governments to support (what is now AECT) and the educational technology field, offering sound guidance. His words, texts and mentorship shape my scholarly work, teaching and grad student guidance on leading education with technology. We can never thank him enough for his academic legacy.
I was honored to receive one of the Kemp Awards as a doctoral student at Indiana University, and even more honored to talk with Professor Kemp at AECT meetings in the late 1990s and early 2000s. I learned a great deal about our discipline from the work he produced, and his generosity and grace served as a model of professional comportment.
Jerry was among the most wonderful mentors and inspiring professors. While I was not one of his students, per se, he was at many of the conferences I attended during my formative years as a researcher. He was just wonderful, happy and funny and always helping me to find balance and think more deeply.
Jerry and I met while I was the principal at Mariposa Middle School. We met every 6-7 weeks overs a multiple year period to discuss technology and instructional design. I learned so very much during our lunch session at the local health food store/café. He donated thousands of dollars to my school for training and equipment. He and Edith were wonderful to my wife and I. Shalom my friend.
Uncle Jerry, I will envision you swimming under the stars in that single-lane lap pool you had built at the top of the orchard in Mariposa. You literally and figuratively enjoyed the fruits of an energetic, caring and productive life. And I will hear your cheerful phone greeting "Well, hello Debbie" and you will make me smile.
Dr. Kemp, you have had a profound influence on my career as an instructional designer and educator. Until we meet again, rest joyfully!
Sadly I was in China when Jerry Kemp passed away. It was during my first job at USF in Tampa, that I met Jerry at a FAME conference in 1968 and we became instant friends. That was because both of us were rascals and loved to laugh and surprise students with off-the-wall comments! He was beyond all doubt, my model paired only with Don Ely at the time, that I grew up. I cried at the news...
To my students who took Instructional Systems Design at UCF:
Our beloved model maker, Jerry Kemp passed away but his
Kemp Model" will last forever. It remains THE MOSTSENSIBLE MODEL OF OUR FIELD! A part of me, a part of us has been lost forever. May my dear friend rest now. Doc C
