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The occupational therapy community mourns the loss of one of its greatest leaders, Gail S. Fidler, who died April 26, 2005 at her home in Pompano Beach, Florida. She is survived by her husband Jay, and their two children, Dagny and Eric. Gail Fidler’s legacy will live forever in the history and tenets of our profession.

Gail Fidler’s friends and colleagues have described her as feisty, tenacious, and visionary. Feisty precisely captures the spark and energy she exuded in perpetually challenging occupational therapy to develop and apply theory to practice. Gail envisioned a society that embraces the therapeutic use of occupation. She tenaciously upheld this vision, and the rigorous scholarship to achieve it, throughout her more than 60 years as an occupational therapist.

Gail credited her husband of 60 years with “immeasurably shaping her thinking, sparking her motivation and clarifying realities with loving care.” She wrote over 29 articles and 13 books, including the seminal text, Introduction to Psychiatric Occupational Therapy, which she coauthored with Jay Fidler in 1954.

Gail Fidler’s work profoundly influenced occupational therapy, particularly in the area of mental health. She will be sorely missed, but never forgotten. AOTF is establishing a memorial fellowship to honor Gail’s genius and perpetuate her legacy of great gifts to our profession.

You may make a contribution to the AOTF/Gail S. Fidler Memorial Fund, on line by visiting our secure website at https://www.aotf.org/secure/order.html.  Or if you prefer, you may mail your memorial contribution to: AOTF, C/O The Gail S. Fidler Memorial Fund at 4720 Montgomery Lane, PO Box 31220, Bethesda, Maryland 20824-1220. Please make your check payable to AOTF and reference the Gail Fidler Memorial Fellowship in the memo section of the check.