The Brock community mourns the passing of Professor Emeritus Stanley Sadava, whose career at the University spanned 40 years. He passed away on Thursday, Jan. 30.
Drew Dane, Co-Chair of the Department of Psychology, remembers Sadava as "an accomplished researcher who studied the social psychology of health, well-being and relationships" and says he will be greatly missed.
In June 2005, then-Chair of Senate Stan Sadava carried the mace in the Convocation procession. The Professor Emeritus passed away last week.
"Stan is remembered by the Psychology Department for being a leader whose kindness, wisdom and civility always helped us find solutions to challenges," says Dane. "His infectious enthusiasm for psychology inspired both faculty and students. He was very dedicated to both teaching and research."
Sadava joined Brock's Department of Psychology in July 1971. His research on subjective health and the use of alchohol and drugs, funded by Canada Council, Health Canada and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, was frequently shared both in his field and in the community.
As early as 1978, Sadava identified a need for a more Canadian-based perspective for teaching social psychology, and by 1988, he had co-authored A textbook of social psychology, the first Canadian-written textbook on social psychology. It went on to have six editions, with the last published in 2005. Sadava also co-authored Applied social psychology with Don McCreary in 1997 and published numerous papers in academic journals.
Sadava served multiple terms on Brock's Senate between 1984 and his retirement in 2011, and chaired Senate from 2005 to 2007. He also served a term on the Board of Trustees, sat on several University committees and was an original member of the Centre that has since become the Department of Applied Disability Studies.
Dawn Zinga, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, says Sadava's countless contributions to his department, Faculty and Brock as a whole will not be forgotten.
"Professor Sadava's influence, leadership and service have had a long reach," she says. "Two current Brock faculty members, Michael Busseri and Danielle Sirianni Molnar, completed their PhDs under his supervision, and they represent the countless students whose studies and careers he helped shape and support."
Sirianni Molnar (BA '01, MA '05, PhD '11), Associate Professor in the Department of Child and Youth Studies, completed her master's and doctoral degrees under Sadava's supervision after she took a course on "Drugs and Behaviour" with him, which she says "changed the trajectory" of her life.
He quickly offered her a research assistantship and she discovered a passion for research, in which she had previously had little interest. Today, Sirianni Molnar is a Canada Research Chair in Adjustment and Well-being in Children and Youth.
"Stan was instrumental in helping me discover my love for research, showing me the power of inquiry and how it allows us to explore, question and ultimately contribute to something larger than ourselves," she says. "His wisdom remains a lasting influence, as I strive to mentor my own students in much the same way minimizing hierarchies, keeping a positive outlook and sense of humour and fostering a spirit of collaboration. I hope I can contribute to keeping Stan's legacy of encouraging curiosity, nurturing growth and building meaningful connections alive."
In June 2011, Sadava delivered a Convocation address in which he shared research on how university affects students before reflecting on his own journey of learning, contributing to knowledge, mentoring students and collaborating with colleagues both intellectually and administratively to build and shape Brock.
"It's been a lengthy career for me lengthy, but has passed by so rapidly because, to put it short, I've loved it," he said at the time.
