13 Facts About Lewis Yablonsky

Lewis Yablonsky was an American sociologist, criminologist, author, and psychotherapist best known for his innovative and experiential work with gang members as well as with the counterculture of the 1960s.

Lewis Yablonsky wrote seventeen books and taught for over thirty years at California State University, Northridge.

Lewis Edward Yablonsky was born on November 23,1924, in Irvington, New Jersey, the son of a laundry delivery truck driver.

Lewis Yablonsky's father, Harry Yablonsky, was a Russian Jewish immigrant and his mother, Fannie, was from Romania.

Lewis Yablonsky was the second of three sons, and grew up poor in Newark, New Jersey.

Lewis Yablonsky attended South Side High School in Newark where he claimed to be friends with a variety of criminals and sociopaths.

Lewis Yablonsky started teaching at San Fernando Valley State College in 1963 and stayed for over 30 years.

Lewis Yablonsky received several teaching and research awards including a lifetime achievement award from the American Sociological Association.

Lewis Yablonsky wrote 17 books on a variety of topics including gang life, drug addiction, the counter culture, the father-son relationship, and psychotherapy.

Lewis Yablonsky often became close to the subjects of his research, and this was especially true with his work on the counter-culture, when he began to smoke marijuana and experimented with LSD, despite his aversion to drugs.

Lewis Yablonsky was married for 17 years to Donna King, a former drug addict.

Lewis Yablonsky gained a national profile for his work with gang members, drug addicts, and hippies as well as through his many books and articles His work is credited with helping to move sociology from a sterile, statistics-oriented discipline to a hands-on, more experiential movement.

Lewis Yablonsky died in Santa Monica, California on January 29,2014.