Dear colleagues and students,
It is with deep sadness that I write to share with you the passing of Dr. Peter Buirski, former Dean of the Graduate School of Professional Psychology at the University of Denver (1993-2012) and long-serving GSPP faculty colleague.
Originally from New York, Dean Buirski spent his early life in both New York and Johannesburg. He received his PhD in clinical psychology from Adelphi University in 1969 and immediately joined the faculty at John Jay College of Criminal Justice (at the City University of New York) where he served as Chair of the Psychology Department from 1979 to 1983. Concurrently, he completed Psychoanalytic Training at the Postgraduate Center for Mental Health in New York, where he served as Dean from 1983 to 1988.
In 1991, Peter was recruited by DU to become the Director of the Graduate School of Professional Psychology. In 1993, he became the first Dean and served in that role until 2012. Additionally, as faculty of the Denver Institute for Psychoanalysis, he enjoyed teaching and supervising, running a private practice, and lecturing both nationally and internationally.
In his free time, Dean Buirski kept busy sculpting, playing the saxophone, scuba diving, windsurfing, playing tennis and golf, and travelling. He was a collector of first edition books and movie posters and approached each of his interests with verve. He was especially known for his sense of humor.
Peter’s family has asked that gifts in his memory go to the Peter Buirski Endowed Scholarship Fund, c/o the University of Denver, P.O. Box 910585, Denver, CO 80291-0585.
Details on a community gathering to honor Dean Buirski are forthcoming. In the meantime, our thoughts are with Dean Buirski’s family, friends, and colleagues.
With warm regards,
Mary L. Clark
Provost