John A. Testa Ph.D.

John A. Testa, Ph.D.

AGE: 68 • Brick Township

Dr. John A. Testa recently faced the inevitable, having outlived the odds since his 2000 diagnosis with Multiple Myeloma, a blood plasma & bone cancer.

John, 68, was born in Passaic, NJ to his loving parents, Rose and Frederick Testa. They and his older brother Fred M.Testa, Esq. predeceased John.

After graduating from Passaic High School, John began his collegial studies at Fairleigh Dickinson University and continued at William Paterson College of New Jersey where he earned his B.A. in Psychology, and his M.Ed. in Psychological Counseling. To complete his educational goals, John entered into a full-time 3 year doctoral program at the California School of Professional Psychology, now known as Alliant University and began working as a Psychological Intern, providing psychological services at the California Veteran Administration Medical Center in Fresno, the Merced Community Mental Health Center Youth & Family Services Section, and the California Men's Prison Colony in San Luis Obispo . In 1980, after completing his doctoral studies on Death Anxiety, he earned his PhD in Clinical Psychology. Returning to NJ, Dr. Testa became a part-time Adjunct Psychology Professor at William Paterson College, and also in 1980, Dr Testa moved to the shore, and became a full-time Staff Psychologist at Jersey Shore Medical Center's Community Mental Health Center in Neptune, NJ where he remained until 1985.

During his years at JSUMC, he counseled individuals and victims of family violence and women who were being battered. His notable expertise became highly regarded while working with men and women, individually and in the Anger Prevention groups that he designed and also facilitated separately and in conjunction with the Women's Resource and Survival Center of Keyport.

Subsequently, in 1985 Dr Testa opened and until 2012 maintained his Independent Practice of Psychology full time in Point Pleasant, continuing his group work in Anger Prevention and with individuals as well, so that both could free themselves from control, enabling themselves to lead happy and productive lives.

Throughout the years, Dr. Testa also presented numerous seminars and workshops on Stress Prevention & Freedom From Control to governmental workers at Fort Monmouth, the Monmouth & Ocean County Courts Divisions of Youth & Family Services, medical personnel at various hospitals, in educational school settings, and volunteered at speaking engagements to veterans, stroke patient and cancer survivors & to the elder population through various Monmouth and Ocean County community agencies, on topics such as Living in the Now and Death and Dying, Anger Management , Stress Prevention, as well as Suicide Prevention.

His work and research on Death Anxiety from the late 70's continues to be recognized by worldwide clinicians, most recently in 2017, from as far away as Australia. Dr. Testa remained licensed and a member of the American Psychological Association until his recent death.

From 2008 to 2017, Dr Testa provided probono services to veterans and their families through the national Give An Hour Program. He was also instrumental in raising funds and having a long overdue monument erected for 16 Passaic Army Soldiers who, in 1961, had lost their lives in a plane crash on their way to training. With the help of the local VFW in Passaic, John's last mission was accomplished in November 2016, when the monument was dedicated in the Rose Garden at the Veterans Memorial Park in Passaic.

John A. Testa, PhD, 'walked the talk,' being a remarkable example as he genuinely enjoyed loving relationships with family and those he encountered throughout his years, including his countless elementary, high school, college, his son's baseball & basketball teams that he coached, community friends & fellow Rotarians, his professional colleagues, his patients and the many nurses, doctors, physical & occupational therapists, patient care assistants and all that cared for him throughout his journey. His work was driven not only by education, but by his incredible enthusiasm, passion and gratitude for life, despite facing his own physical difficulties for seventeen years.

Ultimately, the long term effects of Multiple Myeloma and paralysis prevailed, and John experienced kidney failure in his last 16 months of living. Notwithstanding these difficulties, he maintained the utmost desire to live, by attending dialysis treatments regularly till his heart just wore out. John did the "one and only should" at Ocean County Medical Center, with his loving son and greatest comfort and joy, Robert John Testa, by his side. John is also survived by his sister Michele Testa, nephew Freddy Testa, his wife Tara, and great-nephews, Asher & Izzy.

A memorial service celebrating John's life will be held at noon on Sunday October 22,2017 at Allaire Chapel in Farmingdale, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, contributions made "In Memory of John A. Testa, Ph.D" to: Give An Hour at www.giveanhour.org, or to the American Legion Rosol-Dul Post 359, 1 Wall Street, Passaic, NJ 07055, are greatly appreciated.