McCay ("Mac") Vernon (1928-2013)

McCay ("Mac") Vernon, the founding and preeminent psychologist in the field of deafness. Mac was born at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, DC, into a military family on October 14, 1928 and died on August 28, 2013, at the age of 84. Prior to Mac, research and clinical direction in the field were sparse. Mac became the icon for psychological services for deaf people, and his work extended into the education of deaf children, forensic and ethical practices with the deaf, and public understanding of deafness as a disability and of deaf persons as a psychosocial minority group. Mac will also be remembered for his sharp intellect, good humor, compassion, and advocacy for those who are misunderstood.