Whenever Dr. Mark Worden’s name is mentioned, one of the first words that come to mind is warmth.
“There’s not one unkind thing to say about him,” said Allison Lombardo, ’03.
Students and faculty are mourning the loss of Worden, a professor of psychology at Fairfield University for 30 years, who passed away last Sunday at the age of 55.
According to Rev. Thomas J. Regan S.J., dean of arts and sciences, the death was caused by a reoccurrence of cancer.
“It’s just a terrible loss,” said Regan. “He was a wonderful teacher and a wonderful person.”
Dr. John McCarthy, chair of the Psychology Department, agreed.
“He was warm and friendly and an integral part of the Psychology Department,” said McCarthy. “He was selected to teach general psychology for majors because of his ability to get across the material in such a friendly and warm manner. He will be greatly missed.”
Worden received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Bellarmine University in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, and was awarded his doctorate at St. Louis University. At Fairfield, he was a former head of the Psychology Department and taught a range of courses, including introductory classes, abnormal psychology and minds and bodies of the Honors program.
His focus, however, was on health psychology and family therapy. He had his own practice in Fairfield that specialized in family and adolescent therapy.
Lynn Saladino, ’03, a psychology major, owes her future plans to Worden. “He influenced me to become interested in health psychology. That’s what I want to do with my life now.”
Lisa Ramaccia, president of the Psychology Club, was also mentored by Worden. She came to Fairfield as a psychology major and then, halfway through, decided to switch to an undeclared major.
“I just didn’t think I wanted to do it, but then I took Dr. Worden’s general psychology course and he made me appreciate psychology again,” said Ramaccia, ’03. “His enthusiasm for the field made me want to declare it a second time around. He made the class fun and he always had a smile on his face.”
Worden was married with two grown daughters.
Calling hours are on Sunday at the Abriola Funeral Home in Trumbull. The funeral is on Monday at the Unitarian Church in Westport. Students who wish to attend are asked to RSVP with the Psychology Department at extension 2926.
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