Dr. Alan Joseph Ward, PhD, ABPP, age 86, of Chicago, IL passed away on May 3, 2022 after a lifelong struggle with cancer. He leaves behind his beloved wife of 29 years, Louella Krueger Ward.
He completed 6th grade through high school at Boston Latin (class of 1954), the nation’s oldest public school, where he studied Latin, Greek, French, and German languages. Opera, symphony, and art museums were included in his education.
At Brandeis University, he completed his bachelor’s in psychology in 1958, followed by a master’s in social work at Temple University in 1960. Dr. Ward earned his PhD in psychology from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1965. He received board certification in Clinical Psychology from the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) in 1973. Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago was the location for his fellowship emphasizing children’s mental health and schizophrenia. Following his fellowship he initiated an Autism Research Ward in Philadelphia while teaching at Thomas Jefferson University. His book Childhood Autism and Structural Therapy published in 1976 reflected that work.
In 1975, Dr. Ward came to Chicago to head the Henry Horner Children’s Mental Health Facility which he led for 10 years. He then moved to the University of Illinois at Chicago Department of Psychiatry for 8 years working in the Institute for Juvenile Research. There he produced many research studies, articles, poster presentations, and global conference presentations on children and adolescent mental health.
For the last 30 years, Dr. Ward maintained a full-time psychology practice in Chicago with offices in Hyde Park and the north side of Chicago.
A longstanding advocate for mental health, for both adults and children, Dr. Ward held memberships in the American Psychological Association, World Association of Infant Mental Health, Illinois Psychology Association, Association of Children’s Residential Facilities, American Association of Suicidology, and Chicago Psychoanalytic Institute, among others.
Great enjoyments in his life included classical music, tennis, and travel.