WINCHESTER, VA and QUEENSBURY, NY. Dr. Paul David Etu passed away on Sunday, September 15, 2013 in Winchester as a result of brain cancer.
Paul was born in Glens Falls, NY on September 26, 1954, the youngest child of James Lawrence Etu and Cecelia Joan (Jordan) Etu of Fort Edward, NY.
Paul graduated from Adirondack Community College in Queensbury, NY and received his B.A. in Psychology from the State University of New York at Oswego. He completed his first Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology at Marquette University, where he served as the Graduate Director of Psychological Services. He earned a Master’s degree in School Psychology, a seventh-year Certificate of Advanced Study, and his Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) at the University at Albany.
Paul was married to Marcia Mears in 1977 and they were blessed with three sons: Eric, Joshua, and Nathan.
Paul began his career as a mental health practitioner working with individuals with developmental disabilities and later as a school psychologist. Subsequently Paul spent almost two decades in private practice as a licensed psychologist providing counseling, diagnostic, consultative and mental health services in Glens Falls. At the time of his illness, he was serving as a forensic psychologist with the New York State Office of Mental Health in conjunction with the New York State Office of the Attorney General.
In his work as a sports psychologist, Paul worked with a number of Olympic, professional, and amateur athletes, including four individuals who have been enshrined in their respective halls of fame. Paul was given special recognition for his work with elite athletes transitioning to retirement and with those experiencing career-ending injuries.
Paul was board certified in Clinical Psychology, Neuropsychology, Sexual Addictions and Compulsivity, Sports Psychology, Forensic Psychology, and Disability Examinations at both the state and national levels. He developed and taught numerous college courses in psychology, serving on the faculty of the Empire State College – Center for Distance Learning for the past 17 years.
He was a long-time member of the American Psychological Association, the Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health, the National Institute of Sports (Fellow), the American Council on Forensic Evaluations International (Diplomate), and the American Board of Psychology Specialists (Fellow). At the 2012 ABPS Executive Summit in Las Vegas, Paul was elected secretary, a position he held until the onset of his disability. Paul also served as an International Commissioner for Forensic Education.
Paul spent many years coaching or assisting with youth baseball, soccer, tennis, wrestling, football, hockey and basketball. He served with the local Recreation Commission, Young Life, and Boy Scouts of America organizations in the Glens Falls area. With his spouse, Marcia, Paul helped organize five mission trips to the Gulf Coast to help rebuild homes and lives following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. They also sponsor two children though World Vision, Inc., Mamush Samuel and Kefyalech Bekele, of Ethiopia.
An avid outdoorsman, Paul had hiked in the Shenandoah and Blue Ridge Mountains and had summited 44 of the 46 Adirondack High Peaks before his disability.
Paul was predeceased by his parents, and his sister Mary Eileen Parker who died in 2012.
Paul is survived by his wife, Marcia of Winchester, and their three sons, Eric and his wife Liza of Walnut Creek, CA; Joshua, his wife Sarah, and their children, Julia, William and Brendan of Fredericksburg; and Nathan of Ypsilanti, MI.
He also is survived by two brothers, James Etu of South Glens Falls, NY; and Robert Etu and his wife Patricia of Queensbury, NY; along with many nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition, he is survived by his father- and mother-in-law, William and Carol Mears of Queensbury, NY, and Marcia’s three sisters and their families.
Calling hours and a memorial service will be held at Singleton Sullivan Potter Funeral Home in Queensbury, NY.
To post online condolences for the family, please visit www.ompsfuneralhome.com. Memorial contributions in memory of Paul may be directed to Winchester Young Life, PO Box 2812, Winchester, VA 22604; or Blue Ridge Hospice, 333 West Cork Street, Winchester, VA 22601.