It’s easy to say that Parker Lichtenstein was a “Renaissance Man.” In fact, that’s what his friends often called him. Born in Massachusetts, where his early education carried him through bachelor and master degrees in psychology at the University of Massachusetts and studies under luminaries like B.F. Skinner, he came to the Midwest for a Ph.D. at Indiana University, then set off to Ohio to teach at Antioch College. His service during World War II took him from the Arctic Circle edges of the Atlantic, to the isolation of Pacific Ocean tropical islands, afoot and afloat as a lieutenant with the U.S. Coast Guard. As a psychology professor and college administrator, his academic experience ranged from north to south, from New England to the Pacific coast.
Even at Denison his career covered a lot of ground. His retirement in 1978 ended a distinguished career as a member of the faculty in the psychology department, (serving as its chair from 1951 to 1954), as dean of the college from 1954 to 1970, and as acting president from 1968 to 1969.
As befits a “Renaissance Man,” along with professional articles on psychology throughout his career, Lichtenstein was a tireless reader and regular book reviewer. His life was not simply lived out in print or in the classroom, but also in community service through Granville Rotary, as deacon and board member at First Baptist Church of Granville, and in many professional societies and organizations.
Lichtenstein died on Jan. 24, 2011 at the age of 95. His wife of 66 years, Marion R. (Locke) Lichtenstein preceded him in death just this past April. Survivors include his son, Parker R. (Kathleen) Lichtenstein; daughters, Karen R. Lichtenstein, and Barbara L. Lichtenstein; grandson, Steven (Erin) Lichtenstein; and great-grandson, Keith S. Lichtenstein.