Stephen J. Gaioni *76

Stephen died June 24, 2025, of Lewy body dementia in Webster Groves, Mo.

Born Aug. 19, 1949, in Providence, R.I., he earned his undergraduate degree at Brown in 1971 and a Ph.D. in psychology from Princeton in 1976.

Stephen joined the Washington University psychology department, where his work focused on imprinting in ducks and echolocation in bats. He left WashU to obtain a Ph.D. in clinical psychology at the University of Missouri, St. Louis.

In his public service career, Stephen helped veterans at the St. Louis VA Medical Center, where he began as a psychologist, rose to chief of psychology, and eventually became associate chief of staff and chief of mental health services. He helped obtain grants that enabled the VA to expand the scope and quality of mental health services for St. Louis-area veterans. Stephen helped establish the Hope Recovery Center to provide mental health, substance abuse, and housing support for homeless veterans to assist them in getting back on their feet. Even as a senior administrator, he continued to treat patients, which he considered the most rewarding part of his job.

Stephen is survived by his wife, Pauline; children Mark ’09 and Anna Hummel; and four grandchildren.

Graduate alumni memorials are prepared by the APGA.