Neill P. Watson III – 50th Reunion Essay

Neill P. Watson III

Date of Death: 10-Nov-2016

College: Calhoun

(This memorial appeared in the Virginia Gazette and was reprinted in the May/June 2017 Class Notes.)

Neill P. Watson III, professor emeritus of psychology at the College of William and Mary and faculty member for 32 years, died on November 10, 2016 after a short illness. Respected as a teacher, colleague, and administrator, Neill focused on clinical psychology in dozens of scholarly papers and convention presentations that he wrote and coauthored. His research explored Rogerian theories of psychotherapy and ways to measure discrepancies in people’s self-concepts. He taught courses including Advanced Abnormal Psychology and Phenomenological Approaches to Psychotherapy. For the last 20 years of his tenure he was the William and Mary representative on the Council of Directors for the Virginia Consortium of Clinical Psychology. In that role he was instrumental in providing oversight and direction for the consortium’s graduate program leading to the PsyD degree. He was summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa at Yale. He earned his PhD in clinical psychology at Harvard.

“A philosopher at heart,” as one of his children described him, Neill taught his students—and his children—to view the world with a critical eye, to ask probing questions about what they observed, to persist in seeking answers, and to stay dedicated to reasoned thought. He was known to be conscientious in everything he did. Out of the classroom, Neill loved music and played guitar and sang in the jazz/R&B band Silver. An accomplished arranger, he arranged all the music the group performed, frequently devising complicated chord and key changes. He was an avid swimmer and could often be found at the gym churning up the pool. His wry sense of humor and quick wit, delivered with a twinkle in his eye, were wont to leave family and friends chortling in amazement. Quiet, deeply held spiritual beliefs led him to the Mattaponi Friends Meeting (Quakers) where he was treasurer for many years. A devoted and loving father, he leaves behind four children and two grandchildren.

From Bob Sidenberg: Classmates may recall Neill sporting full leathers on his Royal Enfield motorcycle. Our Calhoun brother was a member of Fence Club and Book and Snake. “Skinny” kept up his lifelong love of music, playing sweet music on his guitar.