Dr. Eric Alberti

SOUTHINGTON - Dr. Eric Alberti, 50, of Copper Ridge, Southington and Pittsfield, Mass. passed away in an untimely hiking accident on Friday, Nov. 28, 2015. He was the loving son of Carole E. and Lawrence T. Alberti of Copper Ridge Southington. Carole was a former department chairwoman of the Southington High School English Dept. Lawrence was former Town Planner of the Town of Southington.

In addition to his parents he is survived by his two loving children, Erica, of Gardner, Mass. and Jackson, of Dalton, Mass.; as well as cousins; and other family. Dr. Alberti held a Ph.D. in Child and Developmental Psychology from the University of Connecticut with a specialty in instructive motivation curiosity in children's behavior. For 20 years he was an area office psychologist for the Department of Developmental Disabilities, Pittsfield, Mass., providing functional behavior analysts support to individuals with intellectual disabilities, autism, behavior disorders and mental illness. Most recently he owned his own independent practice specializing in competency assessments and providing testimony for child custody hearings, and as a consultant to public housing agencies. He was a lecturer and teaching assistant at the University of Connecticut as well as an instructor of developmental psychology. Most recently, Dr. Alberti was an adjunct professor at Westfield State University in Massachusetts teaching undergraduate and graduate courses. Dr. Alberti served as chairman of the Western Massachusetts peer review committee. This committee was tasked with mentoring reviewing and advising clinicians regarding their aversive knowledge and expertise in a variety of psychological clinical areas, Dr. Alberti's participation was requested on a number of state wide committees, these included forensic work groups and a committee which re-wrote the probate court documents associated with the guardianship process of individuals with developmental disabilities. Dr. Alberti was an accomplished skier. For the past 15 years he actively participated in the STRIDE Adaptive Sports program and the Wounded Warriors program at Jiminy Peak in Massachusetts. Eric, or Randy, as his family and close friends referred to him, was an avid outdoor enthusiast beginning with a January ascent and Summit of Mt. Washington with his father at the age of 12. This fostered a pastime of climbing numerous high peaks around New England. Sailing was also a deep love including a nightmarish ordeal, encountering the season's first hurricane while sailing to Bermuda. His favorite toy was his 1966 Willys Jeep handed down from his paternal grandfather. The care-giver role was something that Eric just couldn't seem to step out of. When his work day ended, you would often find him volunteering with differently abled people or doing some off –the-clock counseling with friends. Eric could always be counted on, day or night, to help a friend out of some kind of difficulty. He had that big heart, always drawing broken people, in need of some sage advice, mechanical skill, or what-ever he could offer. It wasn't only when his friends were in need of help that Eric arrived, he was always eager to share in celebrating good times as well. He had a smile that could not be contained indoors, so friends would hike for miles with him in the woods or dance the night away listening to the Grateful Dead, under the stars. For all of the help that he gave to those around him, he was never one to ask for anything. His loss is a tragedy to his mother, father and his beloved children, Erica and Jackson, but to all who had the pleasure of knowing or working with him. His life was centered upon his giving to others. His special charm will be forever remembered by all those lives he touched. He was an extremely kind and thoughtful person with the most beautiful of souls.

His funeral will be held on Saturday, Dec. 12, 11 a.m. at the Plantsville Congregational Church, 109 Church St., Plantsville. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. There are no calling hours. DellaVecchia Funeral Home, 211 N. Main St. Southington is assisting the family with the arrangements. Donations may be made in his memory to the Wounded Warriors Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KA, 66675. For online condolences please visit www.dellavecchiafh.com.