John McCarron, Ph.D. was a former president and fellow of the San Diego Psychological Association. He was a kind and caring man who left a mark on our community. Along with his significant psychological expertise, he was also known for his outdoor accomplishments. He climbed all the fourteen-thousand-foot mountains in the Lower 48, rafted wild rivers, and was an expert skier. He moved to Telluride in the 90s to fulfill a lifelong dream of living in the Rocky Mountains.
John had a great sense of humor, and he often called me from the chairlift in Telluride, daring me to guess where he was. Pete Libero, Vicki, and I skied with him several times in Telluride, which was always a challenging experience. If he said, “You will love this run. It is a bit dicey but it’s nothing you can’t handle,” the translation was, get out of the area immediately. It is an impossible run!
John made a significant contribution to the Telluride community. He proved to be a versatile clinician who handled a variety of problems in his small mountain town. When you skied with John and his wife, Jane Reldan, the town physician, it was like being in the presence of celebrities in the best sense of the word.
John passed away from a brain tumor in 2003 at age 54. His loss was a significant blow to his friends, family, and Colorado community.