WARD J. CROMER

1940 - 2017

CROMER, Ward J. MGH Clinical Psychologist, World Traveler Ward J. Cromer, Ph.D., of Boston and Truro, MA, retired Mass General Hospital psychologist and member of the Harvard University Medical School Department of Psychiatry for 26 years, died on November 17, 2017 in the presence of close friends. A few days prior to his death he made it clear that he wanted to die at MGH, a place that felt like home to him for most of his professional career. Ward was diagnosed with esophageal cancer seven years ago. He outlived most medical expectations, always demonstrating an extraordinary will to live and a constant drive to experience as much of life as was possible despite difficult physical challenges. For decades Ward maintained a close relationship with David Brudnoy, former WBZ Talk Show Host, and provided ongoing caretaking and daily companionship for David during his final years of life. Ward was born in Underwood, North Dakota in 1940, a town with fewer than 700 residents. While his parents ran a local restaurant, Ward spent his youth reading constantly, and imagining the larger world outside of his small home town. Eventually he enrolled at Oberlin College, choosing psychology as his primary area of focus. Upon completion of his undergraduate work, Ward began his doctoral studies at Clark University where he worked with some of the prominent developmental psychologists of the time. Eventually he would complete a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of California, Berkeley, in child clinical psychology. He accepted his first professional position as a faculty member at Wellesley College. One of Ward's main interests was experiencing and understanding the diverse cultures around the world. While at Wellesley, he was chosen for a summer position as a supervising trainer and psychologist for the Peace Corps which allowed him to travel globally. He held this position for many years and established lifelong friends throughout Africa and Asia. Over the course of his life Ward visited 88 countries, seldom staying at a hotel due to his network of international colleagues and friends. Despite his illness, in recent years he made three trips to Bhutan, one to India, six extended stays in Cape Town, countless trips to Europe, a safari to Botswana and journeys to Sri Lanka and Malawi. Since his retirement at the age of 62, Ward volunteered for PAE/REACT, participating in election monitoring in cooperation with OSCE, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. He monitored national elections in the countries of Georgia, Moldova, Macedonia and Kyrgyzstan, often traveling with his implanted chemotherapy port. While at MGH, Ward held positions of MGH Director of Psychology Training, Chief Psychologist at Bunker Hill Health Center and Supervising Psychologist. Many psychology interns and psychiatry residents were touched by Ward's unique teaching skills, inexorable curiosity, and mentoring talents. He also served as a senior consultant to the American Psychological Association, traveling the country to review APA internships for accreditation. Most recently, and as a recognition of his commitment to public service, Ward was an appointed member and Chair of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Board of Registration in Psychology as well as a Public Member of the Board of Registration in Dentistry. In 2012 Ward began to fund a family medical clinic in Malawi, Africa, where children and families can now receive quality care without walking for hours or days. His Charitable Trust will continue to support this clinic. Ward leaves a loyal family of friends both here in Boston and around the globe. A memorial celebration of his life is planned for the spring. Please consider a donation to the MGH Cancer Center or Billy's Malawi Project (www.billysmalawiproject.org) in his memory.

View the online memorial for Ward J. CROMER