Richard John Wakeman

Richard John Wakeman Ph.D., A.B.P.P., passed away peacefully at his home in New Orleans on November 14th, 2021. Dr. Wakeman is predeceased by his father Richard Frank Wakeman of Youngstown, Ohio, and mother Leilani Wakeman Dillard of Honolulu, Hawaii. He is survived by his wife, Christina J. Stein; his children Jared Wakeman (Seamus) and Devin Wakeman (Lauren); his stepchildren Abby Bohren (Tucker), Alex Stein and Landon Stein; his brothers Wayne, Roger, and Steve; his sister Brenda; and his grandchildren Barrett and Connor (who called him “Papa John”). Born in Chicago, Illinois and having lived in multiple cities as an army dependent in high school, he came to New Orleans to attend Loyola University. While at Loyola, he was a member of the Beggars social fraternity. Following graduation from Loyola, he went to graduate school and achieved a masters degree and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Southern Mississippi. He went on to complete an internship in the Department of Neurology and Psychiatry at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

John began his army career as an army psychologist at Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas where he was assigned to the Department of Psychiatry and the Institute of Surgical Research (burn unit). While on the burn unit, he along with Gerold Kaplan M.D. conducted the first large controlled study using hypnotherapy for analgesia to reduce as needed narcotic pain medications. The study was published and he was later awarded, along with Dr. Kaplan, the prestigious Milton H. Erickson Award for excellence in scientific writing and hypnosis. He won that same award several years later, being the only person to have received that prestigious award twice in one’s professional career. While in San Antonio, he completed a 1-year fellowship in Neurotechnology at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital. While in the army, Dr. Wakeman was awarded the meritorious service medal for his active duty service.

After his army service was complete, John came back to New Orleans and joined the Ochsner Clinic and Ochsner Foundation Hospital staff, quickly becoming the head of the Section of Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology. He created and directed a first-of-its-kind program called the Ochsner Stress Treatment unit, which was a specialty inpatient unit for psychophysiological disorders as well as psychiatric illnesses. The stress treatment unit became a model for other major medical centers around the country. John also loved teaching psychology courses at Tulane University in the evening. After working at Ochsner Clinic and Ochsner Foundation Hospital for over 24 years, John went into private practice and worked until October 2021 when he medically retired.

John enjoyed sailing, water skiing, snow skiing, baseball, and watching the New Orleans Saints. He played in the senior mens over 40 baseball league until the age of 58. He was an accomplished drummer and played with various cover bands since the age of 16. He enjoyed regular golf trips with his lifelong college friends, and most recently, several meaningful trips with his best friend, George Mattingly.

John enjoyed his family immensely, and held dear to his heart trips to Colorado and Utah to snow ski as well as annual trips to Destin, Florida each summer with his first wife Pam and their children. Always striving to be a good father to his two sons, Jared and Devin, as they grew up, John’s role as father was the most meaningful role of his life. He also enjoyed watching his granddaughters, Barrett and Connor, play soccer and softball.

In his last 11 years he found love again when he met and married Christina J. Stein. She brought him joy, comfort and happiness through all their years together.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (pancan.org) or to the Louisiana SPCA (louisianaspca.org). Funeral services will be held at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home on November 20th, 2021 at 1:00pm with visitation from 11:00am to 1:00pm.