In memory of Robert W. Hatfield, Ph.D

Journal of Sex Research, Feb, 2008 by Kelly J. Connell

Robert W. Hatfield died on July 19, 2006. He was a very active member of the Society since 1984, having been elected to the Board of Directors in 2002, and was due to be formally sworn in as President at the 2006 Annual SSSS Meeting.

Bob received his higher education at the University of Cincinnati (UC), earning his B.A. in 1977 and his M.A. in 1980, both in Psychology. In 1986 he was awarded his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. He started his professional career as a counselor at Cincinnati Restoration Inc.; a psychiatric halfway house. Across his career, he held an eclectic list of positions, clinical placements, and internships, including Director of Counseling at Planned Parenthood Association of Cincinnati. During this time, a firebomb was thrown through his office window, ultimately destroying the entire building. While sifting though the rubble where his office once stood he found a charred button that said simply "CHOICE." He told me once that it was one of his most prized possessions.

Not only was Bob a long-time member of SSSS, he belonged to the American Psychological Association, the Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association, and the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress. He was a Diplomate Board Certified Sex Therapist, Diplomate Sex Educator and Board Certified Sex Therapy Clinical Supervisor for the American Board of Sexology. He was also a Fellow for both the American College of Advanced Practice Psychologists and the American Academy of Clinical Sexologists. Beginning in 1988 and continuing until his death he was listed each year in "The International Who's Who in Sexology." On September 16, 2001 he was installed as member of Greenhills High School Hall of Fame (his alma mater) with mayoral proclamation of the date as "Dr. Robert W. Hatfield Day" in the village of Greenhills, OH.

His scholarly work was diverse and included such topics as post traumatic stress disorder, touch and human sexuality, using humor in teaching human sexuality, and the effect of family religiosity on sexual intimacy. In 1980 he completed his Master's Thesis: The effects of the use of humor on test anxiety and exam performance with the inclusion of humorous multiple-choice alternatives. He followed in 1986 with his Doctoral Dissertation: Sexual Intimacies and Affection in Adulthood as Determined by Family Religiosity and Childrearing Practices. Bob also contributed to several scholarly books including the chapter: Touch and Human Sexuality in Human Sexuality." An Encyclopedia, Bullough, V., Bullough, B. & Stein, A. (Eds.), Garland Publishing, New York, in 1994 and the chapter entitled Sexual Dysfunction and Sex Therapy in the United States in the International Encyclopedia of Sexuality, Francoueur, R.T. & Noonan, R.J. (Eds.) 2003, Continuum International Publishing, New York.

Bob was an amazing clinician and gifted educator. For over 20 years he taught the undergraduate Human Sexuality class at UC. Bob's class was the largest undergraduate Human Sexuality class in the United States, with enrollment between 450 and 750 each quarter. Every Tuesday and Thursday students would pack Zimmer Auditorium to listen to "Dr. Bob" as they called him, see his movies, (which were legend on campus) and write anonymous questions he would answer during class. Dr. Bob made his students feel like no subject was off limits. He strived for and succeeded in establishing a comfortable atmosphere in which his students were encouraged to learn, think about, and ask questions about sexuality.

At UC he also worked with resident advisors to teach them crisis intervention and basic counseling skills, and spoke to students living in residence halls about sexual myths. He worked with Students Organized Against Rape to teach them about the impact of sexual assault and rape on sexual functioning and subsequent intimate relationships.

Bob completed his tenure at UC as Associate Director of the Psychological Services Center. Among his many duties, he supervised the doctoral students providing mental health services to students. With this position Bob came full circle. He started his own education and training at UC, having his own mentors and teachers and in this position he became the mentor and teacher who impacted his students in an incredibly positive way.

Bob spent many years in private practice specializing in sex therapy, relationships and the treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. There are many couples and individuals who benefited from his style of therapy which came from a genuine concern and caring for people and a strong desire to help people achieve knowledge, self esteem, healthy relationships and a fulfilling sexual life.

In 2004 Bob left UC and returned to full-time private practice at Chestnut Hill Counseling Associates in Dover, New Hampshire. Bob and his wife had been vacationing in Maine and New Hampshire for many years and fell in love with the area. With the move they realized a long-time dream to live there permanently.