James “Red” LeRoy Aten ’53, ’56, author and esteemed speech-language pathologist, passed away on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2014. He was 83.
He was born in Monmouth, Ill., in 1931 and graduated from Roseville High School. In 1951, he joined the U.S. Navy and worked as a radio operator and a pilot during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged in 1955.
While attending Redlands, he was a member of theatre, track and Phi Chi fraternity—building their first frat house.
In 1960, he obtained his Ph.D. in speech-language pathology at the University of Washington and began his more than 50-year career which included positions at the Seattle Veterans Medical Center, San Jose State University and the University of Denver.
He also served as a consultant to the Children’s Hospital and Craig Rehabilitation in Denver, Colo.; an instructor and curriculum advisor at California State University, Long Beach; and an associate clinical professor at the University of California, Irvine, Division of Otolaryngology, Department of Surgery.
He retired in 1992 from the Long Beach Veterans Hospital where he served as the chief of speech pathology and audiology.
In addition to his clinical work, which included the Denver Auditory Phoneme Sequencing Test, he was also a prolific author in his field.
He was a dedicated alumnus serving on the University’s Alumni Association Board and the Alumni Reunion Committee. He was also involved in the community serving St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Laguna Beach, Calif., and sponsoring numerous charitable organizations.
He is survived by his son, Steve; his daughter and son-in-law, Taryn and Todd Armstrong; and his
daughter, Lisa.
Memorial donations may be made in his honor to: Truesdail Center, University of Redlands, 1200 E. Colton Ave., Redlands, CA 92374.
