Don Dinkmeyer Jr.

Published 8:00 am Friday, November 10, 2023

ARCADIA – Don Dinkmeyer Jr., Ph.D., 71, of Arcadia, Michigan, passed away Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023, peacefully at home with his beloved wife at his side. Don was born June 2, 1952, to E. Jane Dinkmeyer and Don C. Dinkmeyer Sr.

He graduated from New Trier West High School in Northfield, Illinois, and from there launched his educational journey. Don received his B.A. in psychology and elementary education from Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, Illinois; his M.S. in guidance and counseling from Nova University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; and his Ph.D. in counselor education from the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida.

Don had a long and prestigious career as a professor, scholar, author, and workshop facilitator. For 21 years, Don was a graduate school professor at Western Kentucky University (WKU) in Bowling Green, Kentucky, where his dry humor and passion for teaching endeared him to his students. At WKU, he spearheaded the effort to achieve CACREP accreditation with the Department of Educational Leadership (2005). Previously, he was a professor at the Adler School of Professional Psychology in Chicago, Illinois, and Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Don was the founder of STEP Publishers, LLC, and the co-author of STEP (Systematic Training for Effective Parenting), which became the most widely used parent education program in North America. He was also the creator of DUSO (Developing an Understanding of Self and Others), a puppet-based classroom guidance program that aimed to bolster self-esteem in elementary school students.

He was a member of numerous professional organizations, serving as the president of the North American Society for Adlerian Psychology (NASAP) from 1986 to 1990. He wrote hundreds of professional articles and textbooks, held workshops around the world, and served on national task forces, all to help parents and children build loving and respectful relationships. Through his writing, teaching, workshop facilitation, and contributions to STEP, Don touched the lives of millions of people. In addition to his prolific career, Don loved to golf, travel (he proudly clocked in over 4 million miles in the air), read, and watch movies, and he never missed a FaceTime with his grandkids. He was a life-long learner and loved to consume anything and everything about NASA. Don met Deb, his future wife, in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin on a blind date through a mutual friend. It was love at first sight and together they built a beautiful life filled with love and adventure. Throughout their marriage, they lived in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin; Bowling Green, Kentucky; Canonsburg, Pennsylvania; and Arcadia, Michigan, his most treasured place.

He is survived by his wife of 37 years Deb, daughter Stephanie (Josh), stepsons Luke (Katie) and Josh (Valerie), and four adored grandchildren: Parker, Finley, Everett, and Lumi. He was so steady, kind, loving, wise, and he would want it noted really, really funny. He will be deeply and forever missed. Also surviving are his mother E. Jane Dinkmeyer, brother Jim (Lyn), aunt Donna Dinkmeyer, several cousins, the Thomas and Parker families, and his niece and nephews.

Don was preceded in death by his father Don C. Dinkmeyer Sr. and his cherished Bichon Frisé buddy Tucker. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution in Don’s name to Camp Arcadia (camp-arcadia.com/give), NASAP (nasap.memberclicks.net/donations), Bichon Rescue (bichonrescuebrigade.org/donate), or Doctors Without Borders (tinyurl.com/4sr6bwvh). A celebration of life will take place in Arcadia in 2024.