Steven John Danish

DANISH, Steven John, Professor Emeritus at Virginia Commonwealth University and former Chair of the University's Psychology Department, died on August 24 in Henrico, Virginia, after a short illness. He was 82.

Dr. Danish was a pioneer in the field of community psychology, engaging faculty, students, and community members in several Richmond-based initiatives.

Dr. Danish developed, implemented, and evaluated community-based life skills programs to promote behavioral health for at-risk adolescents.

Dr. Danish was also passionate about addressing the mental health needs of veterans. He founded and directed the FREE 4 VETS program, which has provided free services to veterans and training to help them develop and apply life skills after the end of their military service.

Another focus for Dr. Danish was athletes. He served as a registered sport psychologist for the Sports Medicine Division of the United States Olympic Committee, and was a member of the Virginia Governor's Commission on Sports and Physical Fitness.

He took particular joy in working with graduate students. Over his multi-decade career, Dr. Danish mentored numerous students who have gone on to become counseling psychologists, scholars, and contributing members of their communities.

Dr. Danish received several awards for his work, including a Lifetime Achievement Award for Prevention from the American Psychological Association's Society for Counseling Psychology. He also received a Distinguished Alumni Award from the College of Education at Michigan State University.

Born in New York City and raised in Binghamton, New York, he received his undergraduate degree from Bucknell University and his doctoral degree from Michigan State University.

Dr. Danish once wrote: "Physical and psychological injuries may be what we have but they are not who we are."

He treasured his 60-year marriage to his wife, Carole, who survives him. He was a devoted father to his sons, Kyle and Chris, and their spouses, Jennifer and Megan. He doted on his four grandchildren, Sam, Sophie, Mira and Finn. His children and grandchildren survive him.