Elam W. Nunnally

Nunnally, Elam W. Elam Nunnally died peacefully on February 10, 2010, at the age of 85 after a creative, adventurous, and joyful life devoted to helping others. Elam was Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in the School of Social Welfare. Until his illness in June 2009, Elam was still teaching classes part-time and counseling clients. Born in Savannah, Georgia, he received his MSW from the University of Chicago and his PhD from the University of Minnesota. He was one of the co-founders of Solution Focused Therapy, which originated in Milwaukee in the 1980s. Elam served in the U.S. Airforce during WWII. He met his wife Eeva in Rovaniemi, Finland in 1949 when they were both working to rebuild the community after the war. During their 58 years of marriage, they made frequent trips to Finland, where Elam's work as a therapist and counselor is highly respected. He has served as a professor and mentor to several generations of social workers in both the U.S. and Finland. Elam was a man of keen intellect and ardent political views; he also had a warm sense of humor. Elam is survived by this wife Eeva (née Partinen) and his five children: Tiina Nunnally (Steven T. Murray), Michael Nunnally (Ellie Gray), Laura Wrang, Andrew Nunnally (Nancy Nunnally), and Thea Mussman (John Mussman); eight grandchildren: Anand, Lacey, Simon, David, Peter, Colin, Kara, and Kristin; one great-grandson: Owen; and his sister Betty Loden, his brother Stuart Nunnally (Charlotte Nunnally), as well as many colleagues and friends. He was preceded in death by his brother John Nunnally and his parents, John and Elizabeth Nunnally. He was a longtime resident of Shorewood. Donations in Elam's name may be made to the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare Graduate Scholar's Fund, Attn: Dean Stan Stojkovic, HBSSW, UWM, P.O. Box 786, Milwaukee, WI 53201. A memorial service to celebrate Elam's life will be held in the spring. Notices will be forthcoming.