In Memoriam: Anthony J. Marsella, Ph.D. (13 Dec 1947 – 2 Nov 2024)
OBITUARIES, 16 Dec 2024
University of Hawaii News - TRANSCEND Media Service
Anthony (Tony) Joseph Marsella in 2022
TRANSCEND and University of Hawaii’s Trailblazing Cultural Psychology Leader
10 Dec 2024 – Loved ones are remembering the life of Anthony (Tony) Joseph Marsella, a professor emeritus of psychology at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, who died on November 2, at the age of 84. Marsella, who retired in 2003, leaves behind a profound legacy of academic excellence, cultural understanding and educational leadership that spanned decades at UH.
A distinguished psychologist and transformative academic leader, Marsella began at UH as a postdoctoral fellow at the East-West Center before joining the psychology department at UH Mānoa. His groundbreaking work challenged long-standing Western psychological paradigms, emphasizing the critical importance of cultural context in understanding human behavior and mental health.
Native Hawaiian advancement
Between 1985–1989, Marsella served as UH vice president for academic affairs. His leadership during that time was instrumental in commissioning the historic UH Kaʻū report, which detailed the university’s commitment to Native Hawaiians. Marsella further demonstrated his dedication by supporting the establishment of the Center for Hawaiian Studies at UH Mānoa, creating a crucial institutional space for Native Hawaiian academic research and cultural preservation. Throughout his career, he mentored nearly 100 doctoral students, leaving an indelible mark on generations of scholars.
“As a professor and an administrator, our Dad never wanted students to feel like “just a number,” at a large university,” said Marsella’s daughters Laura Contant and Gianna Marsella who is a managing editor at UH Press. “He genuinely cared about their interests and goals, and was dedicated to helping them succeed. Even in retirement, he took great joy in hearing about their accomplishments.”
His scholarly output was equally impressive, with more than 20 books and more than 300 scholarly publications that became essential references for psychology and social science scholars worldwide.
Awards, achievements
A passionate advocate for social justice, Marsella received multiple teaching awards such as the College of Social Sciences Award for Teaching Excellence and the American Psychological Association’s Master Lecturer Award.
His later career focused on exploring themes of peace, global challenges and cross-cultural understanding.
Marsella is survived by his wife of 50 years, Joy who retired as an English professor from UH Mānoa.
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Anthony J. Marsella, Ph.D. (13 Dec 1947 – 2 Nov 2024), was a member of the TRANSCEND Network for Peace Development Environment, a past president of Psychologists for Social Responsibility, Emeritus Professor of psychology at the University of Hawaii’s Manoa Campus in Honolulu-Hawaii, and past director of the World Health Organization Psychiatric Research Center in Honolulu. He used to be known internationally as a pioneer figure in the study of culture and psychopathology who challenged the ethnocentrism and racial biases of many assumptions, theories, and practices in psychology and psychiatry. In more recent years, he had been writing and lecturing on peace and social justice. He published 21 books and more than 300 articles, tech reports, and popular commentaries. His TMS articles may be accessed HERE. RIP
Tags: Anthony Marsella, Obituary
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