Dr. John Henry Gladfelter's Obituary
GLADFELTER, DR. JOHN HENRY, PH.D, 85, passed away at Grace Presbyterian Village, Dallas, Texas, on February 23, 2012. Dr. Gladfelter was born on October, 17, 1926 in Tomahawk, Wisconsin to Elmer and Dora Gladfelter. He was the third of four children. Dr. Gladfelter is survived by his brother, Marten (Mary) Gladfelter; nephews, David (Pam) Standard, James (Peggy) Standard, Gary Gladfelter; nieces, Barbara (Alan) Gabosch, Marie (Larry) Grimes; and many grand-nieces, grand- nephews and their children. He also has a great number of colleagues and friends who will greatly miss him. He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, and two sisters, Lillian (Elmer) Allard and Alice (Finis) Standard. He attended the Gladfelter Grade School and Tomahawk High School before moving to Alvin, Texas with his family in 1941 where he graduated from Alvin High School. He joined the Merchant Marines, an auxiliary to the Navy during World War II and was on ships in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. He did some medical training while in the Merchant Marines. On October 26, 1946 he married the love of his life, Rose Ellen Wilhelm in Rosenberg, Texas. She passed away in 2002. They had no children. Dr. Gladfelter first became a medical technologist, registered x-ray technician and medical laboratory director as he worked his way through college. He obtained his BS, MA and Ph.D. from the University of Houston. He and Rose moved to Dallas in 1955 where he was an intern in clinical psychology at Southwestern Medical School at the University of Texas in Dallas until 1957. In 1957-1961 he was an instructor in psychiatry at Southwestern Medical School followed by assistant professor of psychology until 1967. From 1967-1978, Dr. Gladfelter was Clinical Associate Professor of Psychology, Department of Psychiatry, Division of Psychology, University of Texas Health Sciences Center in Dallas. He was one of the first 100 psychologists in Texas and a tireless proponent of private practice and advocate for training therapists and encouraging life-long consultation for clinicians. He was responsible for a creating a generation of well-trained, self-reflective and ethical therapists in Dallas and throughout the country. Dr. Gladfelter had been an integral part of an innovative graduate program in Clinical Psychology, Fielding Graduate University in Santa Barbara California that began in 1973. As this program developed and grew, he remained active and was a significant part of this university’s continued success well into his 80’s. He was a powerful leader, guiding countless number of students to Ph.D. degrees in Psychology. His professional memberships included: American Group Psychotherapy Association, Fellow, Past National Secretary: Southwestern Group Psychotherapy Association, Past President and Fellow; Dallas Group Psychotherapy Society, life Fellow and Past President; American Psychological Association, Member of Divisions 29, 24, 26 and 49; Texas Psychological Association; Society for Personality Assessment, Life Fellow; and International Transactional Analysis Association, Teaching Member. Dr. Gladfelter’s interests were many but he loved magic all of his life. He was an amateur Magician: Past President, Dallas Magic Circle; Past President, Texas Association of Magicians; Past National Deputy, Society of American Magicians; and Order of Merlin Excalibur, International Brotherhood of Magicians. He also loved his pet cats, astronomy, and camping. He had a long prestigious career in the academic field with many publications and presentations during his lifetime and in his long-time work as a gifted master therapist. His contributions have been vast and meaningful to all of the lives he touched. He will be deeply missed by family, friends and the many people whose lives he deeply touched with his wisdom and generosity as therapist, educator and mentor. A memorial service will be held March 31 in Dallas at Restland Funeral Home in the Memorial Chapel at 3:30 p.m. Reception to follow. Go to restlandfuneralhome.com on line to sign the online guest book.
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