Dr. James T. Webb, Ph.D., passed away on July 27, 2018, while on vacation with family in Mexico. He was 78 years old. He was recognized as one of the most influential psychologists nationally on gifted education, and consulted with schools, programs, and individuals about the social and emotional needs of gifted and talented children. He had a passion for furthering the educational and emotional needs of the gifted, spending quality time with family and friends, flying, traveling, scuba diving, and supporting various worthy causes.
Dr. Webb was president of the Ohio Psychological Association from 1974 to 1975 and a member of its board of trustees for seven years. In 1978, he was one of the founders of the School of Professional Psychology at Wright State University, and from 1978 to 1995, he was a professor and associate dean at the school. In 1981, Dr. Webb established SENG (Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted), a national nonprofit organization that provides information, training, conferences, and workshops to parents and educators of gifted children. Previously, he directed the Department of Psychology at the Children’s Medical Center in Dayton and was associate clinical professor in the Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry at the Wright State University School of Medicine.
Dr. Webb was a frequent keynote and workshop speaker at gifted education and psychology conferences in the U.S. and abroad. He was the author or co-author of numerous articles and books, including the best-selling A Parent s Guide to Gifted Children, Misdiagnosis and Dual Diagnoses, and Searching for Meaning, among others. He had a passion for furthering the educational and emotional needs of the gifted, spending quality time with family and friends, flying, traveling, scuba diving, and supporting various worthy causes.
He is survived by his wife of 17 years, Janet Gore, and his daughters, Mary, Amy, Patty and Nadia, her daughters, Ellen and Anne, their significant others and their grandchildren, Alex, Aryanna, Olive, Addison, Priest, and Maddy. They loved him and will miss him dearly, as will his friends around the globe. In lieu of flowers, people may send their condolences a website created in his memory or donate a memorial contribution to SENG.
