Fordham Mourns Former Chair of the Psychology Department

The Fordham University community mourns the loss of Marvin Reznikoff, Ph.D., a longtime Fordham faculty member and former chair of the Department of Psychology, who died June 20. He was 88.

After earning a doctorate in clinical psychology from New York University in 1953, Reznikoff began his tenure at Fordham in 1968. He was chair of the psychology department for four years, from 1981 to 1985, and also directed Fordham’s clinical training program. He was appointed professor emeritus in 1994.

During his nearly four decades teaching psychology at Fordham, Reznikoff mentored more than 80 doctoral candidates in the department—a school record—and received 14 research and training grants. He was known by his students and colleagues for his mentoring guidance, compassion, and inspiration.

At the 75th anniversary celebration of the psychology department in 2009, alumni and faculty of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences hosted a dinner to honor Reznikoff, awarding him a Sapientia et Doctrina medal. The occasion was also used to announce the establishment of the Marvin Reznikoff Endowed Scholarship Fund, a scholarship aimed to provide support to psychology students in the final stages of their dissertation. His former students and colleagues said that the scholarship named in his honor was “a fitting honor for the professor described as a true ‘man for others’ who always gave great direction to new talent.”

Marvin Reznikoff, Ph.D., with Nancy Busch, Ph.D., dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, at a dinner honoring Reznikoff during Communitas ’09, the 75th anniversary celebration of the Department of Psychology. Photo by Chris Taggart

He published widely in journals and anthologies, and authored seven books, including A Practical Guide to the Thematic Apperception Test: The TAT in Clinical Practice (Taylor & Francis, Inc., 2001) and The Rorschach Technique: Perceptual Basic, Content Interpretation, and Application (Allyn & Bacon, Inc., 1994). Considered one of the world’s experts on Rorschach tests, Reznikoff received numerous awards for his work in the area.

Prior to coming to Fordham, Reznikoff served as director of clinical psychology at the Institute of Living, one of the oldest mental health centers in the country. He was also an attending psychologist at New York Presbyterian Hospital and a clinical consultant for the State of Connecticut.

He was certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology, was a former fellow with the American Psychological Association, and was a past president of the Connecticut Psychological Association.

He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Linda Stapleton, of Stamford, Conn.; his children Anne Bratskeir of Sands Point, N.Y., Alexander of Newtown, Conn., and John of Wilton, Conn.; his stepdaughters Melissa Hoch of Stamford, Conn., and Victoria Crowley of Pittsburgh, Penn.; and 14 grandchildren.

A memorial service was held on Sunday, June 23 in Old Greenwich, Conn.

Contributions in his memory may be made to the Marvin Reznikoff Endowed Scholarship Fund at Fordham University care of:

Valerie K. Longwood
888 7th Avenue, 7th Floor
New York, NY  10019
212-636-7439
[email protected]

Contributions may also be made online by clicking here. Select “Scholarships” and “Marvin Reznikoff Endowed Scholarship Fund” from the Fund Selection menu.