Obituary
Dr. Cary Steven Kart died after a sudden illness on July 15, 2021 surrounded by loved ones. He was born June 25, 1947 in New York, New York. The funeral is private in New York.
Dr. Kart’s professional accomplishments are many and impressive. He was a graduate of Stuyvesant High School where he played varsity basketball. He graduated from Queens College with a degree in Sociology. He went on to further study at the New School and Adelphi University earning his Master’s Degree and graduated from the University of Virginia in 1974 with his Ph.D. in Sociology. He began his teaching and research career at the University of Toledo in the fall of that year. While at the University of Toledo he quickly became a tenured full professor and Chair of the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work. He was a member of the Faculty Senate representing his department. He also served on the Presidential search committee for the University of Toledo. He also pursued a Post-Doctoral degree in Aging from the University of Michigan.
Dr. Kart authored, co-authored, and edited a number of textbooks including The Realities of Aging which had 6 editions published over 15 years, translated into nearly 10 languages and was widely used at universities in gerontology courses throughout the world. He was nationally grant funded for projects studying aging, aging and health, aging and ethnicity, and aging and technology. As a result of his research, he was published in a vast array of research journals. He was a highly recognized lecturer for local, regional and national gerontology organizations. Dr. Kart served on the editorial boards of the Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences and the Journal of Applied Gerontology. His academic expertise qualified him as an Expert Witness in Federal Court in many age discrimination lawsuits. Over the course of his career he mentored and developed dozens of advanced degree gerontologists and sociologists who are serving older adults and their communities across the nation and around the world.
Once he retired from the University of Toledo after 30 years, he became a consultant with the Scripps Gerontology Center at Miami University where he continued to pursue research opportunities, publish and mentor post graduate and graduate students in the field of gerontology.
He gave his time and expertise to many professional and community organizations as well. He was a board member of the Northwest Ohio Area Office on Aging. He was past president of the Ohio Association of Gerontology and Education from 2003-2005 which advises the Ohio Department of Aging on issues of education, training, and research. He was Vice President of the North Central Sociological Association. He was a fellow of the Gerontological Society of America. He was a member of the study section on Aging at the National Institutes of Health.
Dr. Kart was a board member of Jewish Family Service of Toledo and also of Congregation B’nai Israel of Toledo. He received many awards and recognitions including the Ohio Gerontology Educator of the Year (1992), Outstanding Researcher of the Year from the Ohio Research Council on Aging (1997) and a Project award from the Ohio District 5 Area Agency on Aging (2001).
Despite his professional accomplishments his pride and joy will always be his family. He was a devoted and loving husband, father and Zayde. He was known for his sense of humor, empathy, and his devotion to the New York Knicks. He is survived by his devoted and loving wife of 52 years, Michelle, and his daughter Renee (Martin), his son Jeremy and his sister Ina (Charles). He is also survived by his dearly loved granddaughter, Marissa. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his loving parents, Eleanor and Irving Kart.
The family asks that donations be made in his memory to the American Diabetes Association, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s research or to Hadassah.
Funeral arrangements provided by Sinai Chapels, Fresh Meadows, New York.
Arrangements by Sinai Chapels. jewishfunerals.com