MFP Celebrates the Life of Dr. Herbert Joseph, Jr.
SAMHSA Minority Fellowship Program
To the Family and friends of Dr. Herbert M. Joseph, Jr.,
We are writing this letter on behalf of the many friends and colleagues of the late Dr. Herbert Joseph, Jr. who was the Program Officer for the Minority Fellowship Program at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, to express our deepest sympathy at a time when we all are experiencing the impact of his loss on our lives. We wish to assure his family members that they are not alone with their feelings of sadness and loss for we, too, share these same deep experiences.
Our admiration for and relationship with Dr. Joseph included our abiding respect for his knowledge and skills that he shared with us about leadership and his vision for a workforce that would be able to care for those who suffer from the burdens of mental health and substance abuse disorders. We are particularly grateful for his insights, his wisdom, and his attention to our requests for guidance and advice regarding the Minority Fellowship Program. Aside from sharing his knowledge and skills with all of us, he also taught us, through his daily demeanor, the value of respecting others, of being kind and gentle to one’s colleagues and friends, and the essential elements of being professional in all of our endeavors. He manifested caring and giving qualities and they were demonstrated to us every time we interacted with him.
Dr. Joseph has touched our lives in many different ways. We particularly admired his approach to problem solving, the strategies that he used to build work teams that were embedded in trust and respect for the opinions and values for all member. He also had a relentless desire to make things better for others. Our beloved colleague wanted the Minority Fellowship Program to be a beacon of light and a model for other training programs. He worked tirelessly and encouraged each of the program directors to remain committed and resolute in our daily work. Several of us were impressed to learn that Dr. Joseph had group pictures that captured the activities of the fellowship program displayed in his office. He made us feel proud and special! He has touched our lives in a profound manner.
We all recognized the many strengths that he manifested, and he made us strong through our associations with him. If one of us was having a difficult time with a situation, he could bring reason, balance, and insights to the discussion. He helped us to remain centered, and provided alternative methods of thinking about solutions and resolutions. Our thoughts embrace the memory of his gentle and unwavering support for each of us, and for this fellowship program. He also talked about his love for his family with great pride and exuberance. We know that he loved each of you deeply and sincerely.
You are in our prayers. We hope that your hearts will mend and your memories remain strong. We will always cherish our memories of Dr. Herbert Joseph, Jr.
Sincerely,
The SAMHSA Minority Fellowship Program
Faye A. Gary, EdD, RN, FAAN
Executive Program Consultant/Director
Janet Jackson, Program Manager
MFP, American Nurses Association
Personal Comments:
I had the opportunity to meet Dr. Joseph during my tenure as a SAMHSA fellow (1999-2002) when he spoke at one of our meetings. I was impressed with his knowledge; yet, he was so gentle in his approach. As the current Director of the CSWE-MFP, I had the pleasure of working with him via his participation at our research meeting in January 2008. Once again, I was impressed with his kindness and gentle spirit. He was the quintessential gentleman, and offered me support and guidance as the new kid on the block. Herb, I will miss you, and I thank you for your time and effort you gave the MFP Fellowship Program.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jenny L. Jones
I have known Herb for over twenty years beginning in the mid 1980s when he was working with the Multicultural Training Program in Boston. He helped support some of the MFP Fellows in that capacity and was always open and receptive. He was a gentle, thoughtful and caring spirit who was effective because he listened; he was creative and truly helped people. I was happy to work with him when I was MFP Director at APA, and attest to his continued gentle and compelling leadership. He is loved and will be missed.
James M. Jones, PhD
I first met Dr. Joseph when he attended our Psychology Summer Institute about four years ago. I remember being struck by his quiet strength and encouraging demeanor. He was genuinely interested in the MFP Fellows and staff as individuals. I can still recall the many ways in which Dr. Joseph conveyed his support and excitement for the MFP over the years. As Acting MFP Director at APA, I could count on him for guidance. Thank you, Herb, for your example of honesty and integrity. You will not be forgotten.
Andrew T. Austin-Dailey, MDiv
I will always remember Dr. Joseph for his kind words of encouragement and support to me while the American Psychiatric Association was transitioning between fellowship directors. He was always ready to respond to my many questions while assuring me that I was on the right track. His gently spirit and commitment to the MFP made it easy to call upon him at any time. I appreciated his guidance and will miss him.
Marilyn M. King, APA MFP Assistant Director
A few years ago, Dr. Joseph was scheduled to present in Chicago to a meeting of our fellows. We were both looking forward to having him present at the meeting and he had sent his materials ahead of the meeting. At the last minutes, he had to cancel and his wife called and made sure she personally spoke to me to extend his apologies. I gave his presentation but with none of the passion and feeling he would have given it. This was just one example of how concerned he was and the extra effort that his wife made to contact me so that I would know that he was unable to attend. We did not know then that that would be the beginning of a long illness. He was committed to the MFP and whenever he was back at work he would be looking out for all of the MFP programs. We all enjoyed working with him and I am saddened to hear of his passing. The MFP has lost a great friend but his efforts will long be remembered by those of us – the MFP Directors – who worked with him and the many fellows who have PhDs and are employed all over the United States. My deepest sympathy goes to his wife and family during this difficult time. I hope that they will remember that he left a great legacy behind.
E. Aracelis Francis, Former Director
CSWE - MFP