Robert Vero Heckel

COLUMBIA - Robert “Bob” Vero Heckel, 90, died January 26, 2016. Born in Chicago Heights, Illinois, Bob and his younger brother, Moby (Verne Kennedy Heckel, Jr.), grew up in Prospect, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh. Asthma limited Bob’s physical activity for 8 years and during that time he developed a love of reading, a habit that stuck and led to a home filled with shelves of novels, history, poetry, and academic books. He made up for early indoor confinement by participating in all the high school sports he could cram in with milking the cows. He graduated from Butler High School and served in the Navy during World War II before entering Pennsylvania State University and earning a BS degree (1948) and a MS degree (1949). After finishing course work for a psychology Ph.D., he taught at Furman University in Greenville and married Jean Kennickell. A grant provided an opportunity to return to Pennsylvania State Univ., where he completed his doctoral dissertation (1955). They returned to Greenville, where the joy of a completed Ph.D., a new job as a clinical psychologist (DMC), and the birth of a son, Verne Kennedy “Ken“ Heckel, III, faded as Jean’s health deteriorated. She died six days after the baby’s birth. In 1958, he accepted a faculty position at the Medical College of Georgia. He married Belle Mead Martin. In Augusta, Bob helped raise their daughter, Belle Mead “Sister” Heckel, his son Ken, and his son, Bobby Peterson. He set up a research laboratory at the VA Hospital in Augusta, Georgia, and began writing and contributed 10 or so publications a year plus and aided in producing several teaching films. In 1964, USC summoned Bob to set up a doctoral program in Clinical/Community Psychology, which he directed. In Columbia, he served as research consultant at William S. Hall Institute, and directed the USC Social Problems Research Institute. He published independently and with graduate students about 140 research and theoretical articles and monographs, and wrote or co-authored 20 books. He served as consulting, associate or editor of several journals and behavioral science book series. Bob served on several hundred dissertations and thesis committees, primarily in Psychology and also in English, Education, and the Arts. He contributed nearly 100 “Historical Bits” to Professional Psychology and SCPA Feedback. Bob’s work was even mentioned by radio commentator Lowell Thomas on one of his broadcasts in 1974. He received many awards including a Fulbright Fellowship to India (1971), The University of South Carolina Russell Award for Research in Humanities and Social Science (1977), The South Carolina Psychological Association Award for lifetime contribution to psychology (1985), and the Teaching Mentorship Award for the Black Psychology Graduate Student Association (2001). As distinguished USC Professor Emeritus (1998 and beyond), he stayed involved with the University where he for 20 years directed or co-directed the Psychological Service Center with much work contributed pro bono. He continued his sports activities until his 70s and became known as much for his determination as a team member and tough football, basketball or softball opponent as for his diligence as a researcher, listening skills as a clinical psychologist, wisdom as a student mentor, and prodigious intellect. Bob and Elizabeth Todd married 16 years ago. He said the best part of his day was coming home to her. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Todd Heckel; a son, Verne Kennedy “Ken” Heckel, III (Greenville, SC); a daughter Belle Mead Cooper and her spouse Robert Cooper (Chapin, SC); and son, Bobby Peterson (Texas). He is predeceased by his parents, Verne Kennedy Heckel, Sr., and Martha Vero Heckel; his step-mother, Hope C. Heckel; and a brother, Verne Kennedy “Moby” Heckel, Jr. Bob’s contributions to psychology lie with the many students he mentored the coworkers he supported and the publications he authored and coauthored. A memorial service will be held at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 1100 Sumter Street in Columbia on Friday, January 29, 2016, at 11:00 a.m. Visitation will take place at Dunbar Funeral Home, 3926 Devine Street in Columbia on Thursday, January 28, 2016, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The family would like to thank the staffs at Still Hopes and Palmetto Health Richland for their care provided during the past ten months. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Robert V. Heckel, Fellowship Fund, 1027 Barnwell Street, Columbia, SC 29201.