Victor Molinari, PhD, emeritus professor in the University of South Florida (USF) School of Aging Studies, died on Nov. 4, 2024, after undergoing cancer treatment.
Molinari joined the USF Department of Aging and Mental Health in 2002 and retired from the School of Aging Studies in May 2023. Throughout his distinguished career at USF, Molinari was a popular instructor whose experience in aging and mental health prepared students for the complications they would encounter in the real world of clinical care.
CBCS Dean Julie Serovich and Molinari celebrate Molinari's 20 years of service to USF at the college's Length of Service event in 2023.
“Victor was someone who always had time for his students and coworkers and was an amazing mentor to all at USF in aging studies,” said Debra Dobbs, PhD, professor and interim director of the School of Aging Studies. “We were fortunate to have him as our colleague and friend for so many years.”
Molinari, a licensed psychologist, board-certified specialist in geropsychology and clinical psychology, and a fellow of the American Psychological Association (APA), Academy of Clinical Psychology, and Gerontological Society of America, was also a major force in his field. He was instrumental in gaining recognition of geropsychology, a field of psychology that relates to the well-being of older adults, as a professional specialty by the APA. As a part of this effort, he worked closely with the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) and became president of both the American Board of Geropsychology and the Geropsychology Specialty Council. He also served as a leader of several other organizations, taskforces, and councils.
Molinari served on many students' dissertation committees, including the committee for Monica Nelson, PhD, in 2023.
In his work as a scholar, Molinari published peer-reviewed articles on diverse applied gerontological topics including mental health outcomes in long-term care, dementia care, serious mental illness in older adults, reminiscence therapy, personality disorder in older adults, and professional issues in geropsychology. In 2017, Molinari co-wrote the first book specifically on ethical practice in geropsychology.
Throughout his career, Molinari’s work has been recognized through numerous awards, including the APA Committee on Aging Award for the Advancement of Psychology and Aging, APA Adult Development and Aging Division John Santos Distinguished Program Development in Clinical Gerontology Award, ABPP Specialty Board Award, and USF School of Aging Sue V. Saxon Outstanding Teaching Award in the Field of Gerontology, among many others.
Recently, Molinari and his wife, Cindy Mason, cemented his legacy at USF by establishing a scholarship in his name. The Dr. Victor Molinari, PhD Aging Studies Scholarship will help grow the newly formed Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration program at USF, which prepares students to join the essential health care administration workforce operating nursing homes, assisted living communities, hospitals, and other health care facilities.
Family and friends are invited to gather at Curlew Hills Memory Gardens in Palm Harbor at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 23, and the memorial service will follow beginning at 2 p.m. The memorial service will also be livestreamed.