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Mensh

IN MEMORIAM

Ivan Norman Mensh
Professor of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, Emeritus

UC Los Angeles
1916—2005

 

 

In April 2005 UCLA lost one of its most remarkable clinicians, teachers, and contributors to the foundations of clinical psychology. It is impossible to summarize the career and personal achievements of a man who had such a powerful impact on the lives of the many faculty, staff, trainees, and patients with whom he interacted so gracefully and with such personal warmth. Each and every one of Ivan Mensh’s life steps was marked by good sense, positive spirit, and good humor. All who had the opportunity to meet this true “mensch” benefited from his wisdom and unique perspective. Dr. Mensh’s tenure as chief of medical psychology from 1958 to 1986 helped to establish this new discipline and to shape one of the foremost clinical psychology programs in the world here at UCLA.

 

Dr. Mensh received his bachelors (1940) and masters (1942) degrees from George Washington University, and served in the Navy during World War II (many colleagues recall chats with Ivan centered on what it was like living in a submarine!). He completed his Ph.D. (1948) at Northwestern, where he worked assiduously in the Navy Research Unit and achieved the rank of senior clinical fellow in the United States Public Health Service. Following a brief tour as Instructor in Psychology at Indiana University, he moved to Washington University where he rose from instructor to professor and head of medical psychology and chief psychologist of the St. Louis Maternity, Barnes, McMillan and Renard Hospitals (1948-1958). Already in 1957, Ivan began what was to be a lifelong dedication to the emerging discipline of gerontology. UCLA was fortunate to recruit Dr. Mensh to the School of Medicine in 1958, inaugurating his 28-year tenure as chief of medical psychology. During this time he served on myriad committees for the University, California State Psychological Association, American Psychological Association, and American Medical Association. He advised the California State Department of Mental Hygiene, the California Commission on Aging, the NIH, and the National Board of Medical Examiners. He was an esteemed member of many professional societies and Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Psychology Associations, the Gerontological Society, and the Charles Darwin Society of the New York Academy of Sciences. His scientific contributions spanning six decades were wide ranging and influential, spanning diverse topics in personality theory, psychotherapy, Rorschach test characteristics, medical education, and geriatric psychology. He received some 60 honors and awards for his dedicated service to a broad range of professional societies, state, national, and international organizations, to which his contributions were legendary.

 

But this listing of professional achievements, while exceptional in every respect, does little justice to the incredible spirit of Ivan Mensh. During his last few years here on campus, his colleagues all marveled at his daily routine, which continued to include participation in geriatric service rounds, and his steadfast attendance at Medical Psychology Program and Training Committee meetings, site visits, and social events. One could set their clock by Ivan’s early morning arrivals at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior (then the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute), and many of us will cherish memories of leisurely walks with Dr. Mensh down Westwood Plaza, along with informal chats about the history of psychology, the formation of gerontology, and of course – submarines! Dr. Mensh’s sparkling eyes and soft voice were always capable of surprising the listener with a novel, simplifying twist in the interpretation of what had seemed a complex situation – and of course, he was always right.

 

We shall forever miss Ivan’s physical presence among us. The Medical Psychology program has dedicated their assessment laboratory to his name, offering a small echo of his lasting impact. A living testimonial to his enduring contributions will be provided by the Mensh Postdoctoral Fellowship Program he has so generously endowed. We hope that the fortunate individuals who are afforded this honor shall essay to follow Ivan’s extraordinary example of scholarship, leadership, commitment, and love of his fellow man.

 

Robert M. Bilder