Robert Correll

Wethersfield - Dr. Robert Eugene Correll, beloved husband and father, made his transition on Sunday evening, March 20, 2005 after a courageous battle with cancer.

Dr. Correll was born on Aug. 27, 1929 in Carbondale, Ill., the only child of Garnet and Mildred (Goings) Correll.

Dr. Correll was granted an undergraduate degree from the State University of Iowa in 1952, and a Ph.D. in Psychology in 1957. He interned in psychology at the Psychopathic Hospital, State University of Iowa, from 1956 to 1957. Prior to moving to Hartford, he served as research associate in psychiatry and anatomy at the State University of Iowa, and then as a research assistant, clinical psychologist, consultant to neurosurgery and later director in the Department of Psychology at Hartford Hospital. He was the founder and chief of Hartford Hospital's Department of Psychology. Dr. Correll was an innovator in the fields of research psychology, neuropsychology and neurophysiology, developing numerous protocols and tests for personality assessment, memory and trauma impaired psychological function. He authored numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals.

He was a past president of the Connecticut Psychological Association, a member of the Governor's Advisory Council on Mental Health and chairman of the Committee for Impaired Psychologists. He passed his knowledge onto others, serving on the faculties of the University of Hartford and the University of Connecticut. He was also the founder of the master's level fellowship program for psychology at Connecticut College and served as the head of the Internship Consortium for Psychologists at Hartford Hospital, UCONN Medical Center and the Newington Veterans Administration Hospital. When The Institute of Living merged with Hartford Hospital as its mental health network, Dr. Correll served as director of assessment. He was a luminary in psychology for Connecticut and Hartford Hospital as he wedded psychoanalysis to the neurosciences and sought to close the gap between the brain and the mind.

At heart he was psychology's gadfly, reminding us of our roots in basic science (the brain) while never forgetting the person. His expertise in assessment is a legacy to the Institute of Living's training programs.

Dr. Correll was a Southerner born and bred, an avid gun collector, and a long-standing member of the NRA. He was a long-time member of the East Glastonbury Fish and Game Club. He collected Alfa Romeos and was a former competition driver with the Hartford Sports Car Club and the Sports Car Club of America. With his wife Carol, he was a long-time supporter of the Hartford Stage Company and the Connecticut Opera.

He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Carol H. Correll, of Wethersfield; his son, Greggory E. Correll, Detective, Olive Branch Police Dept., and his wife, Donna, of Olive Branch, Miss.; his daughters, Dr. Leslayann Schecterson, of North Bend, Wash., and Melanie Correll of Bradenton, Fla.; and his step-daughter, Gail Dumas, of Enfield. He is also survived by four grandchildren, Jonathan Dumas, and his wife, Jeannine, of Williston, Vt., Amber Castell, and her husband, Gregory, of Somerville, Mass., Alexandra Mae Schecterson and Ryan Gabriel Schecterson, of North Bend, Wash.; and one great-grandchild, Alyssa Mae Dumas of Williston, Vt.

The family would like to offer a special thank you and condolence to all of those who showed him kindness and gave him good care in his final months of life. A devoted scholar and teacher, a mentor to hundreds of professionals, a colleague and friend, he will be sorely missed.

The funeral service will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at the D'Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. Calling hours will be Friday, March 25th, from 4to 8 p.m. at the funeral chapel.

For online expressions of sympathy please visit www.desopo.com.