2015 obituary. Dr. Robert Samuel Southworth, 87. SARASOTA, Fla. & Portland - Robert (Bob) S. Southworth, 87, a resident of Sarasota, Fla., and retired Professor of Educational Psychology (University of Southern Maine), passed away on Nov. 25, 2015, at Doctors Hospital, Sarasota. Bob was born in Portland, on Nov. 14, 1928, the son of Horace A. and Pearl M. Southworth (Fay), and was predeceased by his two brothers Horace Southworth, Jr. and Richard A. Southworth. Returning to Maine following military service, Bob earned a Ph.D. in Psychology from Boston University while teaching full-time at area high schools. Bob joined the University of Southern Maine's (USM) College of Education (Department of Human Resource Development) where he started the Counselor Education program in 1965 as part of a nationwide initiative to train elementary school guidance counselors. In 1993, after a 30-year career at USM, Bob and his wife, Dr. Joanne S. Southworth, a Professor of Education, retired to the Bradenton-Sarasota area where they enjoyed tennis, golf, and time with friends and family, including their dachshunds Willie and Shanti, and members of their church, Unity Church of Sarasota. Intellectual curiosity, humor and compassion helped define Bob's character and dedication to his profession: "You can't have a quality education without giving students a sense of who they are. If you don't feel good about yourself, you can't learn," he said. Bob thrived on exploring other cultures during two sabbaticals in Germany and Great Britain, and on trips through Europe and Asia with Joanne. Wherever he traveled, he encountered some of the many students and colleagues he inspired. Bob is survived by his wife Joanne; daughter Julie Shackley and husband David Shackley, and daughter Lori Southworth, stepdaughters Cynthia and husband Flip Sharff, Jill Burgess and husband Kevin Kingdon; grandchildren Katie Anderson, Erik Anderson and Jake Burgess Kingdon; niece Susan Southworth, and nephew and wife, James and Robin Southworth; and mother of two of his daughters, Ellen Meyers. A service in Florida will be held on Dec. 5, 2015, at Unity Church of Sarasota, and a service in Maine will follow in spring, 2016.