Lassiter, Jr., Robert Austin

Robert Austin Lassiter Jr., of Radford, Va., passed away on Sunday, June 19, 2011. He was born in Ripley, Tenn., in 1925. Robert Lassiter was married to Martha Hughes Lassiter for 62 years. They had four children and five grandchildren. He is survived by his wife, Martha; daughters, Laurie Fiscella and Suzanne Glasson; son, Jack Lassiter; and grandchildren, Hannah Glasson, Emily Glasson, Mike Fiscella, Devan Lassiter, and John Lassiter. He was preceded in death by parents, Robert Austin Lassiter Sr. and Floy Norville Lassiter; brother, Jack Lassiter; and son, Robert Austin Lassiter III. Dr. Lassiter entered the military service at age 17. He served in the United States Navy during World War II. He was a radio operator serving with the staff of Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz in Pearl Harbor and Guam. Dr. Lassiter was a pioneer in the field of Vocational Rehabilitation and was well known for his teaching and counseling, both regionally and nationally, for 35 years. He received his Master’s Degree in Social Science from Peabody College, at Vanderbilt University in 1951. In 1960, he was elected president of the National Rehabilitation Counseling Association. He was the director of the North Carolina Easter seals society from 1961 to 1964, where he was responsible for the construction of the first integrated Easter Seals Camp in the United States. From 1964 to 1967, he served as the State Director of the North Carolina Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. From 1967 to 1972, Lassiter was at the University of North Carolina where he earned his Ph.D. and created the first curriculum for the university’s Vocational Rehabilitation Master’s Degree program, and becoming the program’s first director. In 1972, Dr. Lassiter accepted a teaching position at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Va. He was named Professor Emeritus at his retirement. He did post-graduate studies with Humanist, Carl Rogers, and Albert Ellis. He is the author or senior editor of two books, and many articles and publications. In his retirement, he founded the Chester Roundtable, a games and activity center for seniors in Chester, Va. Dr. Lassiter was a member of the Presbyterian Church of Radford, Va., where a Memorial Service will be held at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 24, 2011. A reception will follow. Arrangements by DeVilbiss Funeral Home, Radford, Va., 540-639-2422.