Turning Points

Raymond A. Weiss, Ph.D., Ed.D., FACSM, FAAKPE has written an autobiography, Turning Points, the story of how physical education and sport became his lifelong passion and about his contributions to the evolution of the field of "modern" physical education. This book contains history and insight on the interrelationships of physical education and athletic programs to the fields of medicine, exercise, science, and sports psychology.
As an undergraduate student at the University of Illinois, Raymond Weiss was a member of the gymnastic team that won four consecutive NCAA championships. While studying for a Master's Degree at Springfield College, he was drafted into military service before the start of World War II. After basic training, he was assigned to the Air Forces School of Aviation Medicine's Physical Fitness Laboratory at the request of its Director, Dr. Peter Karpovich, a protege of Pavlov. On orders from the Air Surgeon General's Office, Private Weiss was sent to Officer Candidate School. Shortly after graduation Lieutenant Weiss returned to the Fitness Laboratory to direct the development and application of a graded exercise program for Air Force personnel hospitalized with rheumatic fever, at a time when bed rest was the conventional modality for patient care. Lt. Weiss, Dr. Karpovich, and Dr. Howard Rusk (the Father of Rehabilitation Medicine) introduced this revolutionary recovery and rehabilitation program to military hospitals coast to coast. Lt. Weiss received a commendation from the Air Surgeon General and was promoted to the rank of Captain for his role in that important research.
After the War, Raymond Weiss completed his Master's Degree, taught at Cortland StateTeachers College, earned a doctoral degree at NYU, after which he was appointed to its faculty where he attained the positions of full professor, Department Chair, Division Head, and Professor Emeritus. During his tenure, Dr. Weiss developed a prototype doctoral program to train resource specialists in physical education of the handicapped. He was a research consultant to the Air Research and Development Command, the NYC Board of Education, the Norwalk, Connecticut School System, and the Boy's Clubs of America; a visiting scholar to the University of Delaware; and a lecturer at Hebrew University. He directed the development of the first Graduate Record Examination in Physical Education at the Educational Testing Service while completing his second doctorate in psychology at Columbia University's Teachers College.
Dr. Weiss was instrumental in the development of the American College of Sports Medicine and is a Charter Fellow. He served as President of the American Academy of Kinesiology and Physical Education and was a recipient of AAHPER's Honor Award and Presidential Citation for co-chairing Completed Research. He regularly presented papers at conventions and learned societies, published in professional journals, authored manuals and books, and appeared on television.
After a post-doctoral internship in clinical psychology, he began a second career as a licensed psychologist, joining his wife, Dr. Rosalee G. Weiss, in private practice. Today he continues to live the American dream serving others at all levels, facing new turning points in his life.

Raymond A. Weiss, former department chair and head of the Division of Physical Education, Health and Recreation, New York University, retired in 1981 following 33 years of teaching, administration and research at that institution.

Dr. Weiss regularly presented papers at conventions and learned societies and published in professional journals and books. His research and consultant activities covered a range of fields, including guest lectures, consultant to the Air Force, and to the New York City Board of Education. At NYU, with funding from the U.S. Office of Education, he directed the development of a prototype doctoral program to train resource specialists in physical education for handicapped persons.

Serving his profession at all levels, Dr. Weiss was elected a Charter Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine and served as its treasurer for three terms. In 1960, he was elected to the American Academy of Kinesiology and Physical Education, and served in several elected roles, including president. He was chair of the Eastern District Association’s Research Council and served as the President of the Research Council of AAHPER in 1959-1960. Among other honors, Dr. Weiss received a recommendation from the U.S. Air Surgeon in 1945 for his part in the development and application of a graded exercise program for Air Force personnel hospitalized with rheumatic fever, at a time when bed rest rather than exercise was the practice in patient care. He was the recipient of AAHPER’s Honor Award in 1961, and in 1982 received an AAHPERD Presidential Citation for 21 years of service co-chairing Completed Research in HPER.

Dr. Weiss holds degrees from four institutions: University of Illinois, B.S.; Springfield College, M.Ed.; New York University, Ph.D.; and Teachers College, Columbia University, Ed.D. After retirement, he undertook a post-doctoral internship in clinical psychology and began a second career as a licensed psychologist in private practice, joining his wife, Rosalee, to form Weiss & Weiss Psychological Associates, P.A.