Dirk Magwitz

Dirk Magwitz

Dirk Phillip Magwitz, 39, formerly of Cape Girardeau, died Wednesday, April 15, 2009, at his home in Athens, Ga.

Magwitz was a licensed professional counselor (LPC) and certified rehabilitation counselor (CRC) in the state of Georgia. His area of specialization was working with mindfulness-based therapies, specifically dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) with individuals and couples. Magwitz received a Bachelor of Arts degree in management from Saint Mary's College of California, San Francisco, and a Master of Science degree in rehabilitation counseling from Georgia State University in Atlanta. Magwitz was currently in the marriage and family therapy doctoral program in the department of children and family therapy at University of Georgia at Athens, where he had received the Presidential Fellowship. Magwitz was a student member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy and a clinical member of the American Counseling Association. He had numerous professional publications and presentations. He was also a meditation practitioner and teacher and a member of the World Service Intergroup.

For four years Magwitz worked in San Francisco in the motion picture industry as assistant director/production manager on such projects as "Nash Bridges" and "Mars Attacks!". For five years Magwitz worked in corporate marketing research in San Francisco and Atlanta.

Survivors include his mother, Donna Kurre Magwitz of Cape Girardeau; his sister, Gretchen Magwitz Pierce and brother-in-law Nathan Pierce of Ridgway, Colo.; his aunt, Dottie Kurre Dwyer and uncle John Dwyer of St. Louis; and his cousins Michael Dwyer of St. Louis and Jeffrey Dwyer of Chicago.

He was preceded in death by his father, Donald G. Magwitz.

Magwitz will be greatly missed by family, many friends and colleagues. Memorial suggestions include Good Shepherd Lutheran Chapel in Cape Girardeau and a Foundation Account in the Marriage and Family Therapy Program in care of Jerry Gale, Department of Child and Family Development, Dawson Hall, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602.

Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Chapel.

Memorial services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Good Sheperd Lutheran Chapel, with the Rev. Barry Pfanstiel officiating. Interment will be at Cape County Memorial Park and Mausoleum.