Information about the life of Dr. Michael Kemp

Dr. Michael Kemp

(Note: The following information about the life and accomplishments of Dr. W. Michael Kemp, 60, a professor in the Department of American Sign Language and Deaf Studies, who died on November 24, 2008 in Alexandria, Va., comes from an obituary written by his family.)

William Michael Kemp was born in Lancaster, Pa. to William and  Marie Kemp. Deaf from birth, he graduated from Lancaster Catholic High School. Mike, as he was known, received his bachelor’s degree in sociology in 1971 from Gallaudet, and his master’s degree in deaf education in 1975 from William McDaniel College. He earned the degree of doctor of education in higher education administration in 1986 from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Dr. Kemp taught American Sign Language for 35 years, the last 31 at Gallaudet. He served for 12 years as chair of three academic departments before stepping down to focus on teaching and consulting. His main area of interest and expertise was training people to communicate gesturally to prepare for travel abroad. Since 1980, he had trained sign language instructors throughout the United States and the world. He taught at the University of Puerto Rico, the University of British Columbia, Douglas College (in British Columbia), Thailand's Ratchasuda College, and Vietnam's Teacher Training Center.

For the last 10 years, Dr. Kemp worked extensively in Thailand and Vietnam with groups of deaf students in the Sign Language Teacher Training Program. He made frequent trips as a visiting professor at the Cao Dang Su Pham (Teaching Training Center) in Dong Nai Province.

Dr. Kemp received a research stipend award from the National Institute of Disability and Rehabilitation Research to attend the 18th International Congress on Education of the Deaf in 1995 in Tel Aviv, Israel. He also received the T. J. O'Rourke Memorial Award from the American Sign Language Teachers Association in 2002 in recognition of his international work, and the Teacher of the Year Award in 2008 from the Alpha Sigma Pi Fraternity.

Dr. Kemp was a member of the advisory board for the interpreter training program at Northern Virginia Community College, Annandale. He was a member of the National and Virginia Associations of the Deaf. He enjoyed photography, reading, traveling, and spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren.

Dr. Kemp is survived by a son, William M. Kemp, Jr., of Fairfax, Va.; William Jr.’s mother, Dr. Vicki J. Shank, a professor in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science; his wife of 13 years, Joan Kemp; and two step-daughters, Jennifer Yost Ortiz and her husband, Anthony, and Jamie Yost, a staff interpreter with Gallaudet Interpreting Service, and her husband, Raymond Merritt, a professor in the Department of Biology; and two grandchildren, Zion and Zeke Ortiz. He is also survived by a brother, Thomas Kemp, his wife, Linda, and two nephews, Dan and Jack.

A memorial service for family and close friends was held on December 6. A second will take place at Gallaudet in early 2009, which will be open to the community. Condolences may be sent to Dr. Kemp’s son, Bill Kemp, at 13112 Watchwood Lane, Fairfax, VA 22315, and to his wife, Joan Kemp, P.O. Box 4228, Alexandria, VA 22303.