Erwin (Erv) P. Bettinghaus, PhD, Senior Scientist at Klein Buendel, died peacefully on July 7, 2025. Prior to joining Klein Buendel in 2005, Erv was a Senior Scientist at the Cooper Institute, Denver and AMC Cancer Research Center and Dean and Professor in the College of Communication Arts and Sciences at Michigan State University. It was as Dean that Mary Buller, President and Dr. David Buller, Senior Scientist and Director of Research at Klein Buendel first worked with Erv. In 1997, Erv was instrumental in hiring them at AMC Cancer Research Center and its affiliate, Partners for Health Systems.

Erv was an early champion of health communication research and devoted many years to creating effective methods of communicating with Americans about lifestyle changes that would improve their health and prevent disease. He was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to the National Cancer Advisory Board of the National Cancer Institute. He was a member of the research team for the ground-breaking Community Intervention Trial for Smoking Cessation (COMMIT) supported by the National Cancer Institute. After his retirement from Michigan State University, Erv joined AMC Cancer Research Center and initiated its program in health communication research. It was in this chapter of his life that Erv brought together many of the individuals who would create and nurture Klein Buendel. 

Over 20 years at Klein Buendel, Erv had many colleagues and friends and served in important roles at Klein Buendel, including as a Senior Scientist and member of its Board of Directors. He participated on numerous health communication studies as Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator with collaborators both inside and outside Klein Buendel. Most of all, Erv was a mentor to many of us at Klein Buendel, offering timely advice and relentless encouragement for our endeavors.

Klein Buendel’s management and staff feel privileged to have worked with Erv. We celebrate his professional life and friendship. He will be greatly missed.

Visit the Neptune Society for obituary, memorial, and condolence information.