Peter H. Rossi

Peter H. Rossi (December 27, 1921 – October 7, 2006) was a prominent sociologist best known for his research on the origin of homelessness, and documenting the changing face of American homelessness in the 1980s. Rossi's was also known for his work devising ways to evaluate federally funded initiatives in education, health services, crime control, and housing. He influentially applied his sociological expertise to affect related policy-making and funding agencies. At his death he was the Stuart A. Rice professor emeritus of Sociology and the director emeritus of the Social and Demographic Research Institute (SADRI) at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Rossi was born December 27, 1921, in Corona, Queens, New York City, New York, to Italian immigrant parents. He graduated from the City College of New York with a degree in sociology in 1943. After graduating, he intended on going into social work, however, he enlisted in the Army in 1943, and served in the 100th Infantry Division in Europe during World War II.

After the war, Rossi used his G.I. Bill to continued his education at Columbia University. While at Columbia, Rossi met his wife, Alice Schaerr. Alice also became an eminent sociologist and in 1966, was one of the founders of the National Organization for Women (NOW). During his time at Columbia Rossi was influenced and mentored by two professors and notable social researchers, Robert K. Merton and Paul F. Lazarsfeld. Rossi's doctoral dissertation was entitled "The Application of Latent Structure Analysis to the Study of Social Stratification" and he earned his doctorate in sociology in 1951.

After earning his doctorate, Rossi went into academia joining the faculty at Harvard University for a four-year stint as a Research Associate and Assistant Professor. In 1955 he then joined the University of Chicago’s Department of Sociology faculty, first as an assistant professor then full professor, where he stayed for 12 years. He also was director of the National Opinion Research Center in Hyde Park for seven years, helping to secure the funds to construct a new building.

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