obituaries
Psychologist Geraldine Kovsky
Lincoln Grossman
Dies at 98
HEATHER M. ROSS | STAFF WRITER
Photos courtesy of Stephanie Lincoln
L ongtime Philadelphia psycholo-
gist Geraldine “Gerrie” Kovsky
Lincoln Grossman, who transi-
tioned from a career as a truancy offi -
cer, died on April 30 in her daughter’s
home. She was 98.

Lincoln Grossman, who was a mem-
ber of Reform Congregation Keneseth
Israel, helped shape the landscape
of psychology in Philadelphia in the
1960s. From 1973 to 1978, Lincoln
Grossman was in charge of training
at Hall Mercer Community Mental
Health Center of Pennsylvania Hospital
and was a supervisor at Hahnemann
University Hospital during the same
period. She began a family therapy
practice and helped found the Family
Institute of Philadelphia, where she was
a trainer and a supervisor, according
to her granddaughter, Martha Lincoln.

Lincoln Grossman was a mem-
ber of the American Psychological
Association and the Pennsylvania
Psychological Association, a char-
ter member of the American Family
Th erapy Association, and a member of
the Commission of Supervision of the
American Association for Marital and
Family Th erapy.

She didn’t begin her career as a psy-
chologist, as her relationship with psy-
chology began when she was a truancy
offi cer.

Her job then was to track students’
attendance and ensure they didn’t
miss too many classes. But Lincoln
Grossman soon discovered something
that would change her life and the lives
of hundreds of others.

“She found she was more inter-
ested in why the kids weren’t going
to school, not that they weren’t going
to school,” her daughter, Stephanie
Lincoln, said.

Geraldine “Gerrie” Kovsky Lincoln
Grossman Th at motivated Lincoln Grossman to
return to school where she pursued her
master’s degree in clinical psychology
at Temple University. She previously
studied economics at Goucher College
and attended Bryn Mawr College.

Lincoln Grossman was proud of her
work, her education and her sense of
fashion. “She loved fashion, picking out the
right outfi ts. She was like Marilyn
Monroe, fabulous,” Lincoln said.

Lincoln Grossman also loved to draw
and paint, specializing in portraits. But
her biggest passion was in people.

Lincoln Grossman’s work with her
patients was important to her and ful-
fi lling because of her deep sense of
compassion and a desire to get to know
everyone. Daniel Gottlieb, an area psychologist
and author, shared a story about the
beginning of their friendship.

“Shortly aft er I started working with
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