Name: Visitation for Wayne F. Velicer Ph.D.
Start: 2017-10-20T20:00:00.000Z
End: 2017-10-20T23:00:00.000Z
Location: Avery-Storti Funeral Home & Crematory - Wakefield

Wayne F. Velicer, Ph. D., 73, of Wakefield, passed away peacefully Sunday. He was the beloved husband of Anna (Cruz) Velicer.
Born in Green Bay, Wisconsin, he was a son of the late Frank and Julia (Cherney) Velicer.
Dr. Velicer was Co-Director of the Cancer Research Center at the University of Rhode Island and was a world-renowned expert in Behavioral Health. He had over 200 publications which have been consulted for research over 44,000 times.
He enjoyed traveling, making wine, listening to classical and jazz music, and spending time with family and friends.
Besides his wife, he is survived by two sons, Scott J. Velicer, and his wife Alexa, and Clayton F. Velicer, all of Oakland, Calif.; three stepchildren, Stanley Gemmell of Kingston, Michelle Denton of Boca Raton, Fla., and Jesse Orozco of Kingston; and two grandchildren, Michaela Denton and Maria Denton.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday in Christ the King Church, 180 Old North Road, Kingston. Burial will be private. Visiting hours will be at the Avery-Storti Funeral Home, 88 Columbia St. in Wakefield on Friday from 4 to 7 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the URI Foundation (for a scholarship in Dr. Velicer's name), 79 Upper College Road, Kingston, RI 02881 or to Puerto Rican Hurricane Relief (gofundme page in progress). For guest book and condolences, averystortifuneralhome.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Southern Rhode Island Newspapers from Oct. 20 to Nov. 11, 2017.

Memories and Condolences
for Wayne Velicer

Sponsored by Avery-Storti Funeral Home & Crematory - Wakefield.

9 Entries

John Ragland

November 28, 2021

I just remembered this man again, and he was indeed memorable, and he is loved and missed. I took a course with him and went to some behavioral science round tables with him because we shared some interests. He even added me on Linkedin and let me audit a statistics course he taught. The last time I saw him was at the wake. At least, he looked peaceful indeed. Rest in love, Professor.

Kurt Geisinger

December 20, 2017

I just learned of Wayne's passing. We knew each other from conferences. He was always a great and upbeat guy, a superb psychometrician and psychologist, but also a super and kind person. He had an absolutely wonderful sense of humor and laughed easily. He was an outstanding professional, but a fun person with whom to spend time. He will be missed. I am sorry for your loss.

Carlo DiClemente

October 25, 2017

Wayne was one of a kind and I really appreciated his teaching and all our collaborations over the years. We arrived at URI around the same time. He as a visiting professor and I a grad student who became part of the group that lobbied the department to hire him permanently. The rest is a history of wonderful accomplishments, mentoring of numerous students, and an illustrious career. My memories also include rather physical basketball games and visits to great restaurants. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.

James Steiger

October 22, 2017

I was in the process of undergoing and recovering from eye surgery during Wayne's final days, and only now learned of his grave illness and passing. I am in shock at the thought he is no longer with us. I first met Wayne in 1975. He was truly a force of nature. His dynamic energy, superb organizational skill, and his deep intelligence both practical and academic, represented a constellation of abilities that is truly rare. He used these abilities to produce work that had significant impact on the prevention of cancer, and which led to world-wide recognition. I was privileged to know him, and to work with him and his research team. In the 1990's, I spent several weeks as a guest in his home, and learning of his passion for sports, wine, and gourmet food, and his deep love for his family. My heart goes out to his family and his friends.

Alex Prokhorov

October 20, 2017

I knew Dr. Wayne Velicer since 1992. He was my mentor during my postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Rhode Island for 2 years. He was a wonderful person, brilliant scholar, true innovator, and exemplary methodologist in quantitative research. Few behavioral scientists and psychologists have received such global recognition and appreciation as did Wayne. On a personal note, I would like to mention Wayne's amazing friendly personality, passion for life, travel, good food, great wine, and fun. Despite his busy schedule, Wayne was always accessible to share his wisdom and valuable advice with his mentees. His passing leaves a huge hole in the hearts of everyone who knew him and had the privilege to be his friend and colleague. I would like to send my heartfelt condolences to his family.

Lonnie Sacchi

October 18, 2017

I wish to express my condolences to Wayne's family on their loss.

October 18, 2017

Sorry for you loss

Greg Eby Phil Lanouette

Sue Rossi

October 17, 2017

Over the span of the last 37 years I was privileged to know Wayne, he was a friend, always a caring father and grandfather, a great cook who shared a deep appreciation for wine and gourmet food, as well as shared an appreciation for worldwide travel. He raised two sons Scott and Clayton who turned out to be warm, bright, compassionate, wonderful, human beings and was advisor and confidant to his step-children and grandchildren. That Lucky, the family dog liked him is saying something special. Finding his marvelous wife Anna and extended family during his last years was a God-send. Professionally, he was a great mentor, teacher, a prolific writer and a guiding force who touch so many lives through his work as an outstanding scientist and professor at URI. He will be remembered and missed terribly.

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