In memoriam: John F. Santos (1924–2020)

John F. Santos, Ph.D., Emeritus Professor of Psychology at the University of Notre Dame, was a pioneer in gerontology. Among his many contributions to the field and its development was his Gerontology & Geriatrics Education service. He was on the editorial board (1980–1984) before becoming Editor-In-Chief starting during Volume 4 (1984) – taking over from the journal’s founding editor, Alvin J. Levenson, M.D. Dr. Santos served as Editor-In-Chief until 1990 and as Co-Editor with Grace Dawson, Ph.D., until 1992, when he became Editor Emeritus.

John was born on May 23, 1924 in New Orleans, Louisiana. After serving in the Army in WWII, he completed degrees at Tulane University, including his doctorate in 1958, and a National Defense Education Act foreign language postdoctorate at the University of Texas. He accepted a faculty position at Texas A&I and developed the psychology program. In 1957 he joined the Research Department of the Menninger Foundation in Kansas, serving as program director, supervising research projects and establishing a biomedical electronics laboratory. At Menninger, he worked with Gardner Murphy, a psychology pioneer. In 1965 Dr. Santos was hired by the President of the University of Notre Dame, Fr. Theodore Hesburgh, to establish and develop a Department of Psychology. He served as Department Chair until 1972, establishing the first department doctoral program in 1969 and aging programs in 1970. He developed the graduate program in aging in 1974. While teaching courses in geropsychology and mentoring graduate students, he established the Center for Gerontological Education, Research and Service (GERAS) in 1976 and served as director until 1991. Among the outcomes of the GERAS Center were extensive programs to train paraprofessionals to work with the elderly. Other efforts led to the development of training programs to work with homeless elderly as well as programs training psychologists, counselors and health professionals to work with older adults.

Beyond these academic-based projects, Dr. Santos made significant contributions to national efforts in training, research, service, and practice with the elderly. For instance, he served as Chair of the National Institute of Mental Health Life Course Review Group, as a member of the National Advisory Council on Aging of the National Institute on Aging, and as a member of the Advisory Committee of the Administration on Aging’s National Aging Information Center. Dr. Santos also served in numerous advisory and consultant roles in programs and research in Brazil, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean for the Ford Foundation and the Peace Corps.

In addition to serving as Gerontology & Geriatrics Education’s Editor-In-Chief, he served on the editorial boards of Psychology and Aging (the American Psychological Association’s first journal devoted to geropsychology) and Research on Aging. Other significant service included his long-time service – until the age of 85 – as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Retirement Research Foundation (1979–2010) and the Board of Directors of the Alliance for Aging Research (1986–2010). He was also a member of the Executive Committee of Division 20, Adult Development and Aging, of the American Psychological Association (APA).

Dr. Santos was recognized for his contributions to gerontological research and training. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award for Continuous Support of Research & Training in the Psychology of Adult Development and Aging from APA’s Division 20 in 2006. APA’s Division 20 also created an award in his name in 2009 – the John Santos Distinguished Program Development in Clinical Gerontology Award, and he was the award’s first recipient. He had been named a Fellow of Division 20 in 1985. The Psychology Department at the University of Notre Dame established the John F. Santos Award for Distinctive Achievement in Psychology in 1991.

Dr. Santos’ distinguished career was also evident by his many professional and published works. His publications included over 75 professional journal articles and book chapters. He coauthored and co-edited books such as Psychology and the Older Adult: Challenges for Training in the 1980s (1982, APA) which provided a report of the activities at the 1981 “Older Boulder” Conference regarding training psychologists for work in aging, three volumes on mental health services for the elderly reporting on the 1981 White House Conference on Aging (1984a, 1984b, 1986), Elder Suicide: Research, Theory and Treatment (1994, APA), and Mental Health Services for Older Adults: Implications for Training and Practice in Geropsychology (1995, APA). Dr. Santos also gave well over 100 professional and invited presentations, lectures, and keynote addresses in the field of aging and the aged.

These many accomplishments demonstrate John’s passion for gerontology and particularly gerontological education and training. His family was the other foundation and passion in his life. John married Mary Alice Nesmith in 1946 and was devoted to and cherished her until her death in 2011 and in the years after. Retiring from his university position at the University of Notre Dame in 1990, he and Mary Alice moved to family property in Florida. John died peacefully on May 3, 2020. He was preceded in death also by a son, Ric. He is survived by his family, including 2 daughters (Sheryl and Ginger), 2 sons (Brandon and Ron), 12 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. John will also be remembered by his many colleagues for his numerous contributions and insights, as well as by his students for his concern for their well-being, his generosity of time, resources, and support of all kinds. Those of us fortunate enough to have been mentored by him know that we are better professionals and persons for having known him and being influenced by his wisdom and knowledge. John Santos’ contribution to the well-being of older adults is epic and we have been privileged to work with him.