Otto Lerbinger, beloved PR professor, remembered
Otto Lerbinger taught public relations at the College of Communication for 50 years before his retirement in 2004, making him Boston University’s longest serving faculty member. But it was his mix of knowledge and kindness that the University community remembered after his passing this month. He was 98.
“I’ve met hundreds of academics, and Otto was among the very top,” said Edward Downes, COM associate professor of public relations, recalling how Lerbinger helped him navigate the transition from industry to academics. “He brought an admirable combination of intellectual brilliance and brilliant kindness.”
Amy Shanler, COM associate professor of the practice of public relations, was a graduate student in Lerbinger’s Crisis Communication course in 2001 when planes struck the World Trade Center towers in New York.
“Dr. Lerbinger was a pillar of strength and empathy during the September 11 attacks, helping our class try to make sense of the senseless and find hope during a dark and scary time,” Shanler said. “I am eternally grateful for having the opportunity to learn from this smart and empathetic human.”
Janice Barrett, both a COM graduate and former associate professor at COM, remembered Lerbinger as “a brilliant academic, a prolific writer, and a trailblazer in our field. A gentle, kind, compassionate soul, he offered sage advice and unwavering support.”
In 2003, Lerbinger was named the inaugural recipient of COM’s first endowed chair, the Harold Burson Chair in Public Relations. His publications exploring public relations include the books “The Crisis Manager: Facing Disasters, Conflicts and Failures” and “Corporate Public Affairs: Interacting with Interest Groups, Media, and Government.”
A memorial service has been scheduled for 11 a.m., Oct. 28, at Marsh Chapel on campus. A reception, open to all, will follow at the Castle, 225 Bay State Road, Boston.
