Bruce Klonsky
IN MEMORIAM: Bruce Klonsky
Dr. Bruce Klonsky, a devoted SUNY Fredonia educator and researcher in Psychology for over 40 years, died July 6, 2022. Bruce was the eldest son of Sam and Trudy Klonsky of the Bronx, NY. They raised Bruce only a few elevated train stops from Yankee Stadium, inspiring a lifelong passion - both personal and professional - for sports.
Bruce completed his undergraduate degree in Psychology at Herbert Lehman College in 1971. He went on to receive a Ph.D. in Psychology from Fordham University and joined the SUNY Fredonia Psychology Department in 1979.
Dr. Klonsky contributed to the SUNY Fredonia campus and community in countless ways. He taught a wide range of Psychology courses (15+), supervised hundreds of internship students, and was a creative and appreciative research mentor for many motivated undergraduates. His own research focused on leadership, social and personality development, and multiple aspects of sport psychology, most recently examining the use of sport psychologists by professional sports teams. Bruce was also awarded several grants from the Carnahan Jackson Humanities Fund for campus-community projects that honored those who had experienced serious adversities like family violence and sexual abuse, military stress, and physical- and mental-health challenges. Dr. Klonsky was a very active AASP member, a Certified Mental Performance Consultant and elected as an AASP Fellow for his contributions to the field of Sport Psychology in 2021.
Dr. Klonsky enjoyed making a positive difference in the lives of others via compassionate guidance and respectful collaboration. His unique combination of quiet demeanor, wry sense of humor, positive character, grit, and endurance made him an invaluable resource for his students, his university, and the broader community. He is survived by his spouse, Sandra; his daughter, Taylor; and his brother, Steven.
A celebration of Bruce Klonsky’s life is scheduled for September 30, 2022 at SUNY Fredonia’s Williams Center from 3:30 to 5:30 pm ET, providing time to gather, enjoy light refreshments, and share memories that highlight his unique personality and impactful life. If you wish to attend, let SUNY Fredonia staff know whether you prefer to do so in-person or virtually by e-mailing your reply to Psychology.Department@fredonia.edu, designating “Bruce Klonsky September Tribute” in the subject line. At that time, please let the Psychology Department know if you would also like to request an opportunity to speak about Dr. Klonsky during the celebration.
A “Bruce Klonsky Psychology Scholarship" endowment fund has been established to provide an annual scholarship for a SUNY Fredonia psychology major who meets scholarship eligibility criteria. Please contact the Community Foundation For Greater Buffalo website cfgb.org should you wish to donate to and/or learn more about the scholarship fund.
Written by:
Sandra Klonsky
Joseph Carbone
Alan Kornspan
