Tag: legacies

Former SDPA member Ken Greene passed away on May 24^th, 2005, while visiting his 93-year-old mother in Peoria, Illinois, the town where Ken was raised. He was in private practice for more than thirty years and started the La Jolla Clinic in 1970.

I first met Ken when we worked together on a project at Scripps Hospital. I found him to be a competent, warm man who was generous with his time, ideas, and self. Ken was fun and intelligent. He quickly provided some needed direction and leadership for our group. During our time together, I learned that Ken’s daughter had recently died in an auto accident, and we were all so touched by Ken’s courage and compassion during a terrible tragedy. He exemplified what a person should be. 

Ken was a scholar, an outstanding sailor, and a ham radio expert. After retiring, Ken volunteered at the American Indian Health Center. A quote from the Union Tribune by Dr. Drew Ruocco states, “He was loved and admired by the staff and deeply touched the lives of his Indian clients.” In deep appreciation for his work, the Indian Center awarded him the Order of the Eagles. 

On the distant horizon, a lone sailboat moved swiftly before the wind. As the sun began to set, the boat gained speed and moved gracefully, silhouetted against the darkening sky. Sail on, Ken Greene, and let the ocean breezes carry you to places of adventure, peace, and quiet. Thank you for your contribution. 

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.

Thomas MacSpeiden, Ph.D. died on June 7, 2024. He was 89 years old. I first met Tom in 1974. He was the chief psychologist at San Diego County Mental Health (CMH). At that time, CMH had clinics in separate locations throughout the county and an inpatient unit, and each location employed a psychologist and a psychology intern. Times were different then. CMG had a strong medical/psychiatric team, and a psychologist had to prove his worth. Tom led the way with tremendous resolve and vigor.

In addition to his advocacy and work at CMH, Tom was active in the San Diego Psychological Association, which was then called the Academy of San Diego Psychologists. He served as our President in 1976. It is worth noting that Tom compiled the history of psychology in San Diego. It makes for interesting reading. I recommend it. See SDPA website under About Us.

Tom left county service and went into private practice as a clinical psychologist. In addition, he practiced forensic psychology with a subspecialty evaluating sexually violent predators, challenging work that involved going to prisons and state hospitals and testifying in court.

Tom MacSpeiden will be missed. He was one of those who paved the way.

Kay DiFrancesca, Ph.D.

Note: Dr. MacSpeiden was featured in the January 2024 issue of Age in Action. The article entitled In Harm’s Way He Stood Tall told the story of his work with a developmentally disabled adult who was unfairly accused of abusing children at a church day care center. Dr. MacSpeiden courageously exposed the case as preposterous and the result of a “witch hunt atmosphere” in the country.