[AVAPL Members] Re: Jim Besyner
- From: "Lemle, Russell" <russell.lemle@xxxxxx>
- To: "VHA National Psychology Chiefs" <VHANationalPsychologyChiefs@xxxxxxxxxx>, "VHA Psychology Internship Directors" <VHAPID@xxxxxxxxxxx>, <members1@xxxxxxxxx>, "VHA Psychology Postdoctoral Training Directors" <VHAPPTD@xxxxxxxxxxx>, <CANNON6146@xxxxxxx>, <malcolmburdick@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2011 17:40:47 -0800
Jim was one of the most alive people I know. He poured himself into our
profession and our veterans. His twinkling eye and wry humor lit the
way.
I am saddened not only for our loss but for what Jim has been robbed of.
He was eager to take on the mantle of AVAPL President later this year,
the capstone of a career being a voice for VA psychologists. He had much
more to give.
Russell
From: Burk, Jeffrey P.
Sent: Monday, January 17, 2011 2:24 PM
To: Zeiss, Antonette (SES EQV); Kerns, Robert; VHA National Psychology
Chiefs; VHA Psychology Internship Directors; VHA Psychology Postdoctoral
Training Directors
Cc: CANNON6146@xxxxxxx; malcolmburdick@xxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: Jim Besyner
I now have information about donations for those who are interested. The
family requests that donations be made to the American Heart Association
or to the American Red Cross in Jim's memory. Also, the American Board
of Professional Psychology has established a fund in Jim's name through
the ABPP Foundation. To contribute to the ABPP fund, you may go to the
following web address:
http://www.abpp.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3577
The funeral home has posted Jim's obituary, which you can read at this
web address:
http://www.jaynesmemorialchapel.com/index.php/obituaries/details/909-jam
es-k-besyner-phd-abpp
Jeff
From: Zeiss, Antonette (SES EQV)
Sent: Monday, January 17, 2011 10:46 AM
To: Kerns, Robert; Burk, Jeffrey P.; VHA National Psychology Chiefs; VHA
Psychology Internship Directors; VHA Psychology Postdoctoral Training
Directors
Subject: RE: Jim Besyner
Well said, Bob. Jim's death is an enormous loss personally and
professionally for me as well as for so many others in VA -
psychologists and all of mental health. Following on the loss of Bruce
Rounsaville last week makes this even harder. I have such vivid
memories of Jim, in challenging times and fun times.
Jeff, do you have information on the family's wishes about flowers,
donations, or sharing memories? I know many of us want to pay our
respects to Jim, and express our own loss and grief.
Toni
From: Kerns, Robert
Sent: Monday, January 17, 2011 10:38 AM
To: Burk, Jeffrey P.; VHA National Psychology Chiefs; VHA Psychology
Internship Directors; VHA Psychology Postdoctoral Training Directors
Subject: RE: Jim Besyner
This is terribly distressing news. Jim was a good friend and wonderful
colleague who was a strong public servant and effective leader within
the VA psychology community. I know that others were particularly close
to Jim and must be wondering how this could be. Having just lost a
close colleague here at Yale and VA Connecticut at a young age, I am
almost at a loss for words to express my sense of loss and sadness. Jim
will certainly be missed.
Bob
Robert D. Kerns, PhD
National Program Director for Pain Management, VA Central Office
Director, Pain Research, Informatics, Medical comorbidities, and
Education (PRIME) Center, VA Connecticut
Professor of Psychiatry, Neurology and Psychology, Yale University
Mailing address:
PRIME Center (11ACSLG)
Bldg 35A, 2nd Floor, Room 221
950 Campbell Avenue
VA Connecticut Healthcare System
West Haven, CT 06516
Telephone: 203-937-3841
Fax: 203-937-4926
From: Burk, Jeffrey P.
Sent: Monday, January 17, 2011 10:33 AM
To: VHA National Psychology Chiefs; VHA Psychology Internship Directors;
VHA Psychology Postdoctoral Training Directors
Subject: Jim Besyner
It is with profound sadness that I pass along the information that Jim
Besyner died suddenly on Saturday, January 15, 2011. Jim was the Chief
of Psychology at the VA North Texas Health Care System (Dallas),
President-Elect and former Secretary of AVAPL, and former founding
member of the Executive Committee of the VA Psychology Training Council.
He was a member of the American Board of Professional Psychology and was
serving on its Board of Directors. He also recently became a Fellow of
Division 12 of APA. Those who knew Jim were as impressed by his ability
to inject humor in the most tense of situations as they were of his
insight and intellect. We will miss him dearly.
The information we have about services for Jim is as follows: There will
be a viewing Wednesday, January 19, from 6:00 - 9:00 PM at Jaynes
Memorial Chapel, 811 Cockrell Hill Rd., Duncanville, TX 75137. Funeral
service will be Thursday, January 20, 10:00 - 11:00 AM, with burial in
McKinney, Texas, at 12:30 PM.
As we receive more information, we'll be sure to pass it along.
Jeff
___________________________
Jeffrey P. Burk, Ph.D.
National Mental Health Director for
Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Services (116B-1)
VA Central Office, Office of Mental Health Services
c/o North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System
1601 SW Archer Road
Gainesville, FL 32608-1197
Phone: 352/376-1611 ext. 4642
E-mail: jeff.burk@xxxxxx
Excellence is the result of caring more than others think is wise;
risking more than others think is safe; dreaming more than others think
is practical; and expecting more than others think is possible.
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