Loved ones are remembering the life of Anthony (Tony) Joseph Marsella, a professor emeritus of psychology at the University of 麻豆传媒 at 惭ā苍辞补, who died on November 2, at the age of 84. Marsella, who retired in 2003, leaves behind a profound legacy of academic excellence, cultural understanding and educational leadership that spanned decades at UH.
A distinguished psychologist and transformative academic leader, Marsella began at UH as a postdoctoral fellow at the before joining the at UH 惭ā苍辞补. His groundbreaking work challenged long-standing Western psychological paradigms, emphasizing the critical importance of cultural context in understanding human behavior and mental health.
Native Hawaiian advancement
Between 1985–1989, Marsella served as UH vice president for academic affairs. His leadership during that time was instrumental in commissioning the historic UH Kaʻū report, which detailed the university’s commitment to Native Hawaiians. Marsella further demonstrated his dedication by supporting the establishment of the Center for Hawaiian Studies at UH 惭ā苍辞补, creating a crucial institutional space for Native Hawaiian academic research and cultural preservation. Throughout his career, he mentored nearly 100 doctoral students, leaving an indelible mark on generations of scholars.
“As a professor and an administrator, our Dad never wanted students to feel like “just a number,” at a large university,” said Marsella’s daughters Laura Contant and Gianna Marsella who is a managing editor at UH Press. “He genuinely cared about their interests and goals, and was dedicated to helping them succeed. Even in retirement, he took great joy in hearing about their accomplishments.”
His scholarly output was equally impressive, with more than 20 books and more than 300 scholarly publications that became essential references for psychology and social science scholars worldwide.
Awards, achievements
A passionate advocate for social justice, Marsella received multiple teaching awards such as the College of Social Sciences Award for Teaching Excellence and the American Psychological Association’s Master Lecturer Award.
His later career focused on exploring themes of peace, global challenges and cross-cultural understanding.
Marsella is survived by his wife of 50 years, Joy who retired as an English professor from UH 惭ā苍辞补.