Joan Targ
Encyclopedia
Joan Fischer Targ was a pioneer in computer education. She was the older sister of chess champion Bobby Fischer
.
to Hans-Gerhardt Fischer, a German biophysicist, and his wife Regina Wender, who was a Swiss born naturalized American citizen of Polish Jewish ancestry. Regina Fisher left Moscow because of the persecution of Jews in the 1930s, bringing her child with her to the United States. She spoke seven languages fluently and was a teacher, registered nurse and eventually physician
In 1948, the family moved to Brooklyn, New York, where Regina worked as an elementary school teacher and nurse. In 1949, young Joan bought a chess set in the candy store, and her younger brother Bobby Fischer
, age 6, became so obsessed with it that their mother took him to a psychiatrist.
, receiving a Masters degree in education from the College of Notre Dame
in Belmont
.
She founded a number of innovative programs to study the teaching of computer literacy, including programs in the Palo Alto Unified School District, as well as the Institute of Microcomputing in Education at Stanford University
. Her educational techniques included the creation of systems whereby a student, trained by peers in a basic course in computer programming, would then tutor the next students.
Targ was part of a very accomplished family: husband Russell
, daughter Elisabeth
, son Alex (a prominent Palo Alto anesthesiologist
), brother Bobby Fischer
.
Joan Targ died of a cerebral hemorrhage at the age of 60.
Bobby Fischer
Robert James "Bobby" Fischer was an American chess Grandmaster and the 11th World Chess Champion. He is widely considered one of the greatest chess players of all time. Fischer was also a best-selling chess author...
.
Early years
Targ was born in MoscowMoscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
to Hans-Gerhardt Fischer, a German biophysicist, and his wife Regina Wender, who was a Swiss born naturalized American citizen of Polish Jewish ancestry. Regina Fisher left Moscow because of the persecution of Jews in the 1930s, bringing her child with her to the United States. She spoke seven languages fluently and was a teacher, registered nurse and eventually physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
In 1948, the family moved to Brooklyn, New York, where Regina worked as an elementary school teacher and nurse. In 1949, young Joan bought a chess set in the candy store, and her younger brother Bobby Fischer
Bobby Fischer
Robert James "Bobby" Fischer was an American chess Grandmaster and the 11th World Chess Champion. He is widely considered one of the greatest chess players of all time. Fischer was also a best-selling chess author...
, age 6, became so obsessed with it that their mother took him to a psychiatrist.
Adulthood
Joan Targ lived in Palo Alto, CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, receiving a Masters degree in education from the College of Notre Dame
Notre Dame de Namur University
Notre Dame de Namur University — formerly the College of Notre Dame — is a private, Catholic University located in Belmont, California in the San Francisco Bay Area. Notre Dame de Namur University is an accredited university in San Mateo County, and the fifth-oldest university in California...
in Belmont
Belmont, California
Belmont is a city in San Mateo County, California, United States. It is in the San Francisco Bay Area, located half-way down the San Francisco Peninsula between San Mateo and San Carlos. It was originally part of the Rancho de las Pulgas, for which one of its main roads, the Alameda de las Pulgas,...
.
She founded a number of innovative programs to study the teaching of computer literacy, including programs in the Palo Alto Unified School District, as well as the Institute of Microcomputing in Education at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
. Her educational techniques included the creation of systems whereby a student, trained by peers in a basic course in computer programming, would then tutor the next students.
Targ was part of a very accomplished family: husband Russell
Russell Targ
Russell Targ is an American physicist and author, an ESP researcher, and pioneer in the earliest development of the laser....
, daughter Elisabeth
Elisabeth Targ
Elisabeth Fischer Targ was a psychiatrist specializing in psychic phenomena and the role of spirituality in health and healing...
, son Alex (a prominent Palo Alto anesthesiologist
Anesthesiologist
An anesthesiologist or anaesthetist is a physician trained in anesthesia and peri-operative medicine....
), brother Bobby Fischer
Bobby Fischer
Robert James "Bobby" Fischer was an American chess Grandmaster and the 11th World Chess Champion. He is widely considered one of the greatest chess players of all time. Fischer was also a best-selling chess author...
.
Joan Targ died of a cerebral hemorrhage at the age of 60.