James L. Aten

(With gratitude to the Orange County Register from Nov. 16 to Nov. 23, 2014 where the article was published. Additional information may still be accessible here)

Aten, James "Red" LeRoy, Ph.D., a very well-loved speech-language pathologist of Laguna Beach, CA, died on his 83rd birthday on Sunday, November 9, 2014, from natural causes following a series of strokes.

Dr. Aten was born in Monmouth, IL in 1931. He graduated from Roseville High School in 1949, where he participated in track, football, basketball, chorus, theater and reporting for the school newspaper. He enlisted in the United States Navy in 1951 and later joined the US Naval Flight Program in Pensacola, FL. He served as a radio operator and a Navy pilot, landing on carriers via SNJ-5 and SNJ-6 airplanes during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged in 1955.

He attended the University of Redlands concurrent with his military service, graduating in 1953 with a BA in psychology and MA in speech pathology in 1956. He lettered in track as a pole vaulter, belonged to the ski club and participated in theater as an actor. He was a proud member of the Pi Chi fraternity, where he helped build their first frat house in 1951, and belonged to a group called the "Bulldogs," who still gather annually to celebrate their decades-long fellowship. He loved his alma mater, where he received "an education to be proud of."

In September 1955, he married Nadine Malbeck from Pensacola, FL and his first child, Steve, was born in August, 1956. Ambitious as ever, he concluded his Ph.D. in speech-language pathology at the University of Washington in 1960, while contributing to the creation of daughters, Taryn and Lisa in his spare time. He received a post-doctoral internship at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, and finished his residency in 1968.

His speech pathologist career spanned over 50 years, beginning at San Jose State College as a speech pathology clinical director and assistant professor. Highlights of his profession included speech pathology positions at the Seattle VA Medical Center, associate professor and clinical director at San Jose State University, and as a tenured associate professor at the University of Denver. In 1992, he retired as the chief of speech pathology and audiology at the Long Beach VA Hospital. He continued with consulting and in private practice after his retirement.

Dr. Aten served as a consultant to the cleft palate team at Children's Hospital and Craig Rehabilitation in Denver, CO; neuro-care speech-language pathologist for traumatic brain-injured; instructor and curriculum advisor at California State University, Long Beach; associate clinical professor at the University of California, Irvine, Division of Otolaryngology, Department of Surgery; and on the advisory board for the Communication Sciences and Disorders Department at Chapman College.

He was a prolific author in his field, and remained involved in many professional activities until a stroke disabled him with the same neurological conditions suffered by many of the patients he treated over the years. His final accomplishment in 2014 was the completion of life-long career project, The Denver Auditory Phoneme Sequencing Test, published in collaboration and with the exceptional talents of colleague Dr. Deborah Swain.

Jim had great balance in his life. He loved his kids, his friends, his faith, Bible study, his "probability seminar" (poker group), fishing, traveling the world, tennis, skiing-and it's no secret-more than his fair share of interesting girlfriends. He was so well-skilled at Happy Hour that he found his eldest daughter a husband. In a bar. In Alaska.

He was involved with St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Laguna Beach and contributed to many charitable organizations. If you needed a hand, Jim was always willing to help. Never idle, he worked hard all of his life, from picking potatoes and laying bricks, to being a mailman to pay his way through college. Always be kind to your mail carrier.

He is survived by his son, Steve Aten of Denver, CO; daughter, Taryn and son-in-law Todd Armstrong of Soldotna, AK; and daughter, Lisa Aten of Richland, WA.

Dr. Aten donated his body to the University of California, Irvine, Willed Body Program, for educational purposes. Many thanks go out to his supportive friends and colleagues, especially to Dr. Betty McMicken, who stepped up with unparalleled compassion and professionalism to assist with Jim's post-stroke disabilities. Dr. Daniel Boone was a force of incredible influence more than once, by way of recommendations, for Jim's advancement in the speech-language pathology profession. To those positive people trekking along with Jim's life path, he has before, and would now, express eternal gratitude.

Memorial Donations can be made to the Truesdail Center at the University of Redlands in Jim Aten's name. No service is planned at this time.

In Memoriam: James Aten '53, With Renowned Resonance

Reproduced with gratitude from OchTamale THE UNIVERSITY OF REDLANDS ONLINE MAGAZINE (first appeared here)

James "Red" LeRoy Aten '53, '56, author and esteemed speech-language pathologist, passed away on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2014. He was 83.

He was born in Monmouth, Ill., in 1931 and graduated from Roseville High School. In 1951, he joined the U.S. Navy and worked as a radio operator and a pilot during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged in 1955.

While attending Redlands, he was a member of theatre, track and Phi Chi fraternity - building their first frat house.

In 1960, he obtained his Ph.D. in speech-language pathology at the University of Washington and began his more than 50-year career which included positions at the Seattle Veterans Medical Center, San Jose State University and the University of Denver.

He also served as a consultant to the Children's Hospital and Craig Rehabilitation in Denver, Colo.; an instructor and curriculum advisor at California State University, Long Beach; and an associate clinical professor at the University of California, Irvine, Division of Otolaryngology, Department of Surgery.

He retired in 1992 from the Long Beach Veterans Hospital where he served as the chief of speech pathology and audiology. In addition to his clinical work, which included the Denver Auditory Phoneme Sequencing Test, he was also a prolific author in his field.

He was a dedicated alumnus serving on the University's Alumni Association Board and the Alumni Reunion Committee. He was also involved in the community serving St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Laguna Beach, Calif., and sponsoring numerous charitable organizations.

He is survived by his son, Steve; his daughter and son-in-law, Taryn and Todd Armstrong; and his daughter, Lisa.

Memorial donations may be made in his honor to: Truesdail Center, University of Redlands, 1200 E. Colton Ave., Redlands, CA 92374.

James L. Aten participated in the 1977 Panel discussion on "recovery" at the ASHA Convention. With his permission, am audio of his presentation is included on The Stuttering Home Page "Voices: Past and Present" where you can Listen to Aten's presentation.
James Aten wrote an article (chapter 8) for the Stuttering Foundation's Advice To Those Who Stutter entitled "Overcoming Fear and Tension in Stuttering". The entire book is online. You can find the resource on the Stuttering Foundation's website.

Tributes

Judy Kuster - When I contacted Dr. Aten to gain permission to include his 1977 ASHA presentation on Voices: Past and Present, he gladly gave permission. But my favorite memory of him was at another ASHA convention, in 2011 when I put together another panel on "Paths Toward Recovery." At the end of the presentation he stood up and introduced himself as a former panel member and thanked the current panel for their presentations and for continuing the tradition of ASHA panels every decade. It was really nice to meet him in person and shake his hand. He had a great smile!
Dr. Aten was my speech pathologist at the Long Beach VA in 1990. To say that he changed my life would be an understatement. A great man with incredible professional and personal skills . Thanks Jim for all that you did. I am forever grateful. Terry M.
Betty McMicken - I knew Jim for 40 years. He was always the kindest of men, an astute clinician, and a diligent researcher. He gave of his time, reached out to people less fortunate, and literally never said no when it came to a need for assistance. A day in my life does not pass without warm remembrances of Jim and deep gratitude for his friendship.
Judy Montgomery - Jim Aten was a very important person in my professional life. We co-taught courses in Neuro at California State University - Long Beach about 30 years ago. What fun we had planning our lectures and entertaining our students with lively repartee about life in the trenches ر Jim at the VA and me in a school for children with neurological disorders. We matched each other story for story!! Our friendship continued at many ASHA Conventions and California Speech Language and Hearing Conferences - plus we wrote together and remained active in our professional organizations. When I began working as CSD Dept Chair at Chapman University in Orange, CA, Jim was a natural to bring onto our Board of Counselors. He never missed a meeting (maybe because there was a great lunch) and added immeasurably to our conversation on how to provide improved therapy opportunities for adults with head trauma and strokes in our community. We talked and planned, and soon set up the Adult Learning Lab at Chapman University. An instant hit for our community and a wonderful place for our graduate students to learn! When suddenly Jim had a series of strokes himself, our friendship continued. My students and I would visit him at the skilled nursing facility, sing the old songs, identify people in the photos, and laugh at our favorite old jokes. He continued to teach my students by his very presence at our sessions each week. Jim never stopped teaching others to join the field he loved so much. Today, we have the James Aten Learning Lab at Chapman University, to serve clients, at no cost, who have run out of their insurance. Jim would have done it that way. We could do no less. His three children donate to the Lab, as well as many of his friends who know what it would mean to him. Jim continues to enrich our field.