Dr. Melvin Sorcher of Westport, Connecticut, passed away November 15, 2025 at age 95. He was an acclaimed organizational psychologist, author and beloved husband to Sylvia Sorcher, the love of his life. Mel knew he would marry her the moment she opened the door on their first date. They spent the next seven decades together.
Mel's family will forever cherish his sharp mind and wit, adventurous spirit, and dedication to making the world better each day and for the generations to come. They will remember his encouragement to follow their passions and to take risks in pursuit of important goals. "Regret is more difficult to live with than remembering a mistake," he would often say.
These were lessons learned over his long career, which centered around helping others become successful. Born on February 26, 1930, Mel grew up in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. A U.S. Army sergeant during the Korean War, Mel earned a B.S. and M.A. and worked in aerospace systems. He received a Ph.D from Syracuse University.
Mel became a pioneer in the field of industrial-organizational psychology, developing and implementing "behavior modeling" in business and other non-clinical settings - an approach that was widely adopted in companies to train managers to become more competent colleagues and bosses. He headed General Electric's corporate behavioral research group and served as worldwide director of management development for pharmaceutical company Richardson Vicks. Mel authored and co-authored four books, including "Changing Supervisor Behavior" (1973) and "Predicting Executive Success" (1985) along with more than 40 articles and chapters. He won the American Psychological Association's Industrial and Organizational Psychology division's second-annual award in 1978 for distinguished professional practice throughout his career, including for work to bring behavior modeling to address apartheid in South Africa by breaking down racial barriers in industry.
Before retiring at 72, Mel started his own consulting firm specializing in CEO and senior management evaluation and selection within the largest Fortune 100 companies. His two decades of retirement were filled with projects up until the very last days of his life. He published "Beat-the-Odds Interviews" (2008) to help recent college graduates secure their first jobs amid the Great Recession, and launched a successful crusade to make Westport the first town east of the Mississippi River to ban nonbiodegradable plastic bags. He was a prolific painter, taught English as a second language, took Spanish lessons and traveled around the country to see the large family he treasured.
Mel is survived by his loving wife Sylvia Sorcher of Westport, Connecticut, and sons Michael Sorcher (Jill Sorcher) of Overland Park, Kansas; Robert Sorcher (Nicolas Ospina) of Denver, Colorado; Peter Sorcher (Erin Sorcher) of Mill Valley, California; and grandchildren Sara Sorcher (Arie Lipnick), Gary Sorcher, Danielle Sorcher, Jessica Sorcher, Rachael Sorcher, Caroline Sorcher, Kaya Sorcher and Shea Sorcher.
Funeral services will be held Sunday at noon at Abraham L. Green and Son Funeral Home in Fairfield, Connecticut. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the National Kidney Foundation.
Mel's family will forever cherish his sharp mind and wit, adventurous spirit, and dedication to making the world better each day and for the generations to come. They will remember his encouragement to follow their passions and to take risks in pursuit of important goals. "Regret is more difficult to live with than remembering a mistake," he would often say.
These were lessons learned over his long career, which centered around helping others become successful. Born on February 26, 1930, Mel grew up in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. A U.S. Army sergeant during the Korean War, Mel earned a B.S. and M.A. and worked in aerospace systems. He received a Ph.D from Syracuse University.
Mel became a pioneer in the field of industrial-organizational psychology, developing and implementing "behavior modeling" in business and other non-clinical settings - an approach that was widely adopted in companies to train managers to become more competent colleagues and bosses. He headed General Electric's corporate behavioral research group and served as worldwide director of management development for pharmaceutical company Richardson Vicks. Mel authored and co-authored four books, including "Changing Supervisor Behavior" (1973) and "Predicting Executive Success" (1985) along with more than 40 articles and chapters. He won the American Psychological Association's Industrial and Organizational Psychology division's second-annual award in 1978 for distinguished professional practice throughout his career, including for work to bring behavior modeling to address apartheid in South Africa by breaking down racial barriers in industry.
Before retiring at 72, Mel started his own consulting firm specializing in CEO and senior management evaluation and selection within the largest Fortune 100 companies. His two decades of retirement were filled with projects up until the very last days of his life. He published "Beat-the-Odds Interviews" (2008) to help recent college graduates secure their first jobs amid the Great Recession, and launched a successful crusade to make Westport the first town east of the Mississippi River to ban nonbiodegradable plastic bags. He was a prolific painter, taught English as a second language, took Spanish lessons and traveled around the country to see the large family he treasured.
Mel is survived by his loving wife Sylvia Sorcher of Westport, Connecticut, and sons Michael Sorcher (Jill Sorcher) of Overland Park, Kansas; Robert Sorcher (Nicolas Ospina) of Denver, Colorado; Peter Sorcher (Erin Sorcher) of Mill Valley, California; and grandchildren Sara Sorcher (Arie Lipnick), Gary Sorcher, Danielle Sorcher, Jessica Sorcher, Rachael Sorcher, Caroline Sorcher, Kaya Sorcher and Shea Sorcher.
Funeral services will be held Sunday at noon at Abraham L. Green and Son Funeral Home in Fairfield, Connecticut. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the National Kidney Foundation.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Melvin Sorcher, please visit our flower store.
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