Faculty, staff and students mourn the passing of a Psychology Professor who had been a part of UMBC’s community for more than 30 years.

An email from Linda Baker, Professor and Chair, Psychology informed the UMBC campus earlier this month of Professor Emeritus Raymond H. “Pete” Starr’s passing earlier this month.

Even after Starr’s retirement in 2006, hence the title Emeritus, he continued to contribute to the UMBC campus through his research, teaching and service missions. His life’s work focused on applied Developmental Psychology in which he concentrated on finding solutions to, as well as understanding, the subject of child abuse.

Starr’s education included a M.A. Degree from Denver University, an A.B. Degree from Johns Hopkins University and a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from the University of Cincinnati in 1968.

His career began at the Merrill Palmer Institute where he was a research associate and a faculty member in Human Development in Detroit. He then continued on at the Children’s Hospital as Associate Director of the Family Center for the Prevention and Study of Child Abuse, before coming to UMBC in 1977. He also served on the editorial boards of such journals as Mental Retardation, Journal of Family Violence and Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities.

Tom Beck, Chief Curator at Albin O. Kuhn Library & Gallery and Maureen Black, Professor from the Department of Pediatrics from UMB, shared their memories and knowledge of Starr in an email sent out to the UMBC campus community.

Black recalled that Starr, Howard Dubowitz and she had collaborated to bridge the UMBC and UMB campuses. Together they obtained several million dollars in grant funding, and allowed for undergraduates and graduates to train and work on projects between the two campuses.

“Pete was a brilliant man – his mind was always on the “Go,” as evidenced by his rapid fire puns- one after the other,” Black recalled, “He had a terrific sense of humor, together with an endearing sensitivity and empathy for others.”

Starr’s life extended passed teaching and research, into the arts.

“Pete had the heart of an artist,” Beck said in the email sent out to UMBC‘s community. Starr had been working on his artistic talent, including panoramic photos, for 30 years. His photography included places as far as Prague, Czech Republic, and places as close at UMBC Campus. His panoramic photo of the moon over the Library & Galley celebrated the opening of the Library Tower in 1995. According to Beck, Starr also worked on artist books on a variety of themes, including social satire and family subjects.

At the time of his passing he was working on a portfolio with Visual Arts Associate Professor Emeritus Jaromir Stephany, entitled “In Search of… The Notorious Adventures of Barbie and Ken in the Toy Box.”

Starr was also known internationally recognized as an expert on child abuse and neglect. He was a recipient of an award for Psychological Service in the Public Interest from Maryland Psychological Association, and had been an elected fellow of the American Psychological Association and five of its divisions.

“We loved him as a friend and colleague, and we will miss him deeply,” said Black.