Robert Anthony Contadino

Robert Anthony Contadino, affectionately known by his friends and clients, as Dr. Bob died at the age of seventy-five of pancreatic cancer. He was born on Jan. 19, 1951 and was a life long resident of Cincinnati, OH.

Bob, a church organist and choir director throughout high school, learned to read music before the written word. Although he did not make music his vocation, his love of J.S. Bach and organ music persisted throughout his life.

Bob received his PhD is Clinical Psychology from Summit University of Louisiana in 1999.

Bob's broad interests in psychology, philosophy, and religion blending with his strong commitment to helping the under dog led him to the practices of social work, rehab counseling, and psychology. Bob directed The Free Clinic in its early days, then directed 621-CARE, a suicide prevention and crisis intervention center. He developed a private counseling practice with a variety of client populations, supervised fledgling counselors, and taught a broad range of topics related to questioning and understanding human experience. His work was strongly influenced by psychodynamic theory and, in particular, Psychosynthesis. Bob was recognized for his gifted and wonderful ability to explain complex ideas in a clear way without loosing the concepts' essence. Notably, he developed creative experiential exercises for the benefit of his clients and students.

Throughout his life, he and his wife sheltered a number of people for various periods of time who were in need of a home, emotional support, or both. Bob's own struggle revolved around managing and living with chronic pain associated with cluster headaches that began in his late teens and progressively worsened over the years. He was fortunate to have several very wonderful doctors. He also had a very difficult childhood that both haunted him and helped him to empathize with the pain of others. Bob enjoyed his coffee, an occasional pipe of tobacco, his books, the ocean, and the many dogs he had over the years.

Bob is survived by his wife, Elisabeth, sister, Paula Ballinger (Keith), bother, Michael Contadino (Marge), sister-in-law, Erica Feibes, and longtime close friends, Anne Harder and Ginny Kluska. Celebration of Life to be scheduled. Please send donations in Bob's memory to the Cincinnati Public Library or your favorite animal welfare organization.