Obituary of Sheila Rouslin Welt

Sheila Rouslin Welt, a native of Providence, Rhode Island, passed away on May 3, 2016. She was internationally renown as a scholar, author, editor and clinician. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Boston University and her Master of Science degree from Rutgers University. On the same day she attained her degree from Rutgers, an article reporting her research on "Chronic Helpfulness" appeared in the New York Times. The research was to have far-reaching consequences on the needs of mental patients in relation to the economics of public mental hospitals. Over the course of her long and distinguished career, she was a National Institute of Mental Health Career Clinician and a Radcliffe Research Scholar. She co-authored and edited with Anita O’Toole a historical collection of papers by her mentor, the world-renowned educator/psychiatric nurse, Hildegard E. Peplau. Four of her books received the American Journal of Nursing Book of the Year award. Many of her books were co-authored with her friend, psychologist and academician William Herron. She lectured widely throughout the United States and abroad. Ms. Rouslin Welt had been executive director of West Bergen Mental Health Center in Ridgewood, New Jersey and later practiced as a Clinical Specialist in mental hospitals including Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital and Essex County Overbrook Hospital in New Jersey, while maintaining a private psychotherapy, consultation and supervision practice. She taught graduate at psychiatric nursing program at Rutgers University and Lehman College. In addition to practicing, teaching and publishing, Ms. Rouslin Welt served as editor of Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, and was on the Editorial Board of Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, published by Yale University. For over thirty years, Ms. Rouslin Welt maintained a private psychotherapy, supervision and consultation practice in Morristown, New Jersey and had been an educational consultant at The Pingry School in Short Hills, New Jersey. She maintained close relationships throughout her life with childhood friends, Classical High School classmates, and she loved working with her many colleagues over the years.She is survived by her husband, Dr. Aaron Welt, a psychologist, and her son, William, who lives in Massachusetts, by her beloved family, including her sister, Tobey Olken, her brother in law, Mark Olken, her niece Elizabeth Olken-Hunt and husband Tim, and nephew Samuel Olken and his wife Pam. Sheila will be remembered for her love, her devotion to family, friends, colleague and patients, her unerring advice, and her unsurpassed prowess as a cook. A Memorial Service for Ms. Rouslin Welt will be held on Friday, May 6, 2016 at 10:30am at Temple B’Nai Or, 60 Overlook Road, Morristown, NJ. Interment will be private. Arrangements were under the care of Dangler Funeral Home, Morris Plains, NJ.