Cal Lutheran professor, inventor dies

(THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Jan. 23, 2015) Kirkland Gable, a popular professor at California Lutheran University for three decades and an inventor, died Jan. 18 from natural causes. He was 80.

The Thousand Oaks resident taught psychology at Cal Lutheran from 1975 until his retirement in 2004. His entertaining teaching style ensured that students remembered what he taught them. He was known to show up to the first day of class wearing Mickey Mouse ears, finish lessons by spraying students with a super soaker and positively reinforce correct answers with candy and prizes. He taught students cranial anatomy by dissecting a Jell-O brain with a meat cleaver. A licensed hypnotist, he often hypnotized students. With his engaging personality, even students who never had him for a class knew who he was. Seniors elected him Professor of the Year more than once.

Gable was also an inventor. He and his twin brother, Robert S. Gable, are the co-inventors of the location-monitoring system for offenders used in ankle bracelets. He also held patents for a car camera and novelty radio.

He was also a lawyer. A graduate of Harvard Law School, he wrote many books and articles on the intersection of law and psychology. One of his articles on the legal rights of mentally ill patients was cited in a majority opinion of the United States Supreme Court. He specialized in the treatment of severely delinquent youths and female shoplifters.

Prior to coming to Cal Lutheran, Gable taught and conducted research at Harvard University and Harvard Medical School. He was a licensed psychologist in California and Massachusetts and a Diplomate of the American Board of Forensic Psychology. He served as chairperson of the Crime and Delinquency Review Committee of the National Institute of Mental Health and assistant editor of the International Journal of Psychiatry. He received a bachelor’s degree from Ohio State University, a master’s degree in education and a doctorate in counseling psychology from Harvard University, and a doctorate in social psychology from City University Los Angeles.

Gable wrote four books and more than 60 articles. His 2009 novel, “Winner’s Way,” tells the story of a college student whose chance meeting with a mysterious man changes the course of his life.

He was born Ralph Schwitzgebel on March 21, 1934, in Canton, Ohio. He and his twin changed their last name to Gable in 1980.

Gable is survived by his wife, Colleen Ryan; his children, Sandy Ryan and Eric Schwitzgebel; and his brother. They plan to celebrate his life with a parade and pool party in July.