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Robert “Bob” Vero Heckel died Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. He was 90.

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 eight 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 U.S. Navy during World War II before entering Pennsylvania State University and earning a bachelor’s degree in 1948 and a master’s degree in 1949. After finishing course work for a psychology doctorate, he taught at Furman University in Greenville and married Jean Kennickell. A grant provided an opportunity to return to Pennsylvania State University, where he completed his doctoral dissertation in 1955. They returned to Greenville, where the joy of a completed doctoral degree, a new job as a clinical psychologist 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, Bob 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, 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 in 1971, The University of South Carolina Russell Award for Research in Humanities and Social Science in 1977, The South Carolina Psychological Association Award for lifetime contribution to psychology in 1985 and the Teaching Mentorship Award for the Black Psychology Graduate Student Association in 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); a daughter Belle Mead Cooper and her spouse, Robert Cooper (Chapin); 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 begin at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 29, 2016, at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral at 1100 Sumter St. in Columbia.

The family would like to thank the staffs at Still Hopes and Palmetto Health Richland for their care provided during the past 10 months.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Robert V. Heckel, Fellowship Fund, 1027 Barnwell Street, Columbia, SC 29201.

Robert ‘Bob’ Vero Heckel, 90, psychology research consultant who published numerous papers, books added by Brindy McNair on January 29, 2016
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