TOPEKA, Kan. (KSNT) — Dr. Roy Menninger, grandchild of the man who started Menninger Clinic, died a few days shy of his 98th birthday.
According to his obituary, Roy died on Thursday. He was born in Topeka on Oct. 27, 1926, to William Claire Menninger and Catharine Wright Menninger. According to his obituary, in his early years, Roy was an accomplished Boy Scout and later became an Eagle Scout. He had an early love of music and grew up to play cello in the local civic orchestra.
During the early days of World War II, Roy was upset he couldn’t serve his country, so he decided to secretly enlist at 16. A Topeka recruiting officer recognized Roy’s prominent name and refused his application.
Roy attended Washburn University and George Washington University before graduating from Swarthmore College in 1947, according to his obituary. He graduated from Cornell Medical School in 1951; he later served his residency at Boston State Hospital before transferring to Boston Psychiatric Hospital.
Roy took a leadership role at the Menninger Foundation in 1967 after his father’s death.
Dr. Roy was a gifted communicator, but he listened more than he talked. Whether sharing an informal lunch with employees or meeting with political leaders or Hollywood luminaries, Dr. Roy treated everyone with the same level of compassion and respect. He accumulated much wisdom in life and had a low-key but direct way of sharing powerful insights that could ease troubled hearts and worried minds.”
Statement excerpt from Dr. Roy Menninger’s obituary
Roy is survived by his wife, Beverly, his brother, Walter, and a family that includes Heather Visscher (Kirk), Pacific Grove, CA; Brent (Victoria), Overland Park, KS; Ariel McInerney (Joe), Cool, CA; Bonar (Ann), Merriam, KS; Fred (Julie), Lawrence, KS; Eric (Karen Hacker), Atlanta; Beth Ann, Topeka, and seven grandchildren.
To read Dr. Roy Menninger’s full obituary and offer a donation instead of flowers, click here.