Ruth Matarazzo (1926–2020)

Presents the obituary of Ruth Matarazzo (1926-2020). She was Professor Emeritus of Behavioral Neuroscience at Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU). Matarazzo went to Pembroke College for women at Brown University graduating in 1948 in psychology and stayed on for a year in graduate studies. There she met Joseph (Joe) Matarazzo, also in graduate psychology, and married him in 1949. She earned her Ph.D. from Washington University in 1955 and became the first woman admitted to the St. Louis Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Clinical Psychology Internship Program. She later joined Harvard Medical School as a research fellow and staff psychologist at Massachusetts General Hospital. As an educator, Ruth taught and supervised psychology interns and residents in medical psychology, residents in psychiatry, mentored female medical students, and published widely. Some of her greatest achievements was her leadership in helping women in medicine and science. She arrived at the Portland Medical School eight months pregnant and worked until she gave birth to her first child. Her example helped to change policy for working women at the school, particularly nurses, allowing them to work longer during their pregnancies if they chose to do so. She also was a founding member of the Portland Opera. In 2007 she received the Presidential Award of the American Psychological Association for her lifetime of professional contributions and public service. In her spare time, she was active in civic affairs and clubs. She is survived by her husband Joe, son Harris, daughters Elizabeth and Sara, and five grandchildren. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)

Child and Adolescent Health · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Psychology