Joseph A. Barrett, Ph.D.

   Joseph A. Barrett, Ph.D., Clarks Summit, passed away at 91 years of age on July 3 at the Hospice of the Sacred Heart Inpatient Facility, Dunmore. His devoted wife is the former Marianne Devine. Joe and Marianne celebrated 60 years of marriage on November 17th.
   Dr. Barrett was born in Jessup and raised in Peckville, son of Joseph (Lynott) Barrett and Marguerite (Mahon) Caniff. He was a 1949 graduate of Blakely High School. He attended the University of Scranton where he received his BS and MA degrees in counseling and psychology. He later earned a Ph.D. degree in clinical psychology at St. John’s University, Jamaica, N.Y.
   Dr. Barrett had a long career in education and in psychological consulting. He taught in public schools in Whitney Point and Chenango Forks, N.Y., and in Scott Twp. Joe later served at the University of Scranton in both teaching and administrative capacities. He was the first full time lay director of the Evening College, which evolved into the Dexter Hanley and Panuska Schools. Dr. Barrett later taught at Barry University, Miami Shores, Fla. He retired from Marywood University in 1996 where he served as associate professor of psychology and chair of the department.
   Dr. Barrett also served as a psychological consultant to the Diocese of Scranton and was a member of several committees including the Vocations Committee and the Matrimonial Jurisprudence Board. He also consulted with various other dioceses and the military ordinariate. Over his long association with the Diocese of Scranton he was an advisor to six bishops.
Other professional experiences included time with the neuropsychiatric service at the VA Medical Center, Wilkes-Barre. There he worked with a pioneer area clinical psychologist, Dr. Isadore Krasno. For a number of years Joe also served at Bureau of Disability Determination, Wilkes-Barre.
   Joe especially valued church and family and was faithful member of Our Lady of the Snows Parish, where he was a member of the choir and a cantor. He also spent many happy occasions playing golf, at times playing as a team with his entire family. He took great delight in traveling with family to watch professional golf tournaments all over the country. He was a long-time member of Elkview Country Club.
   Music was a strong personal passion for Dr. Barrett. Joe was heavily influenced by Norbert K. Betti who had a love for classical music and Italian opera. Another important mentor was Sister Camillus (Mary Kelly) of Marywood University.
Also surviving are his sons, Atty. Joseph, Edward and Charles; as well as grandchildren, Patrick and Maggie Barrett; and several nieces and nephews.
   He was the youngest of seven siblings preceded in death by a brother, Edward (Ted); and sisters, Mary, Helen, Mildred Booth, Margaret Lund and Ann Murphy-Fisher.
   The funeral will be Saturday from Our Lady of the Snows Church, 301 S. State St., Clarks Summit, with Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. to be celebrated by Monsignor Joseph G. Quinn, pastor. Interment, Mother of Sorrows Cemetery, Finch Hill. The family will receive relatives and friends from 8:30 to 9am at Jennings-Calvey Funeral and Cremation Services, Inc., 111 Colburn Avenue, Clarks Summit, PA 18411.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 50, Memphis, TN 38101-9929, www.stjude.org/donate.
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