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John Van Ess Firman, M.A., M.F.T.
John was a licensed psychotherapist practicing in Palo Alto, California. He died on June 23, 2008, three months after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
John began his career in mental health in the late 1960s as a psychiatric technician at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Unit. He later worked in the state hospital system and in a county alcoholism unit.
John completed advanced training in psychosynthesis at the Psychosynthesis Institute, and for several months in 1973 he studied with Roberto Assagioli in Italy. He also received training at the Family Therapy Institute of Southern California and worked for several years as a psychotherapist and spiritual director on the staff of a Catholic parish in Los Angeles. He was an associate core faculty member at the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology.
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Patricia Zoe Rector (Davis)
Hey John!
You want to play ball in Memorial Park with your dad? You want to fling the football, watch TV--the Mickey Mouse Club and Betty Boop?
You want to get toned up -- climb Mt Baldy with your dad and your bro? and never get "fat" again?
Ya want to fall in love with ocean biology and take it somewhere in your life?
Well, your mom and dad would be soooo proud.
I miss the Firmans, across the street from me on 7th street.
Knowing your life was a tribute to the human spirit...as are all those of the class of 63 who have gone before.
Benedict (Benny) Heyer
John was one of the good guys. I remember Saturday nights in his parents basement watching T.V. I don't recall who all were there but we would plan our T-paper attacks on selected victims. One memorable attack was on Mrs. Waggner's house. It went off with perfection. The house and surrounding trees were totally covered with soft white T-paper.
I know John had some very dark days in his life but I choose to remember the good times we shared growing up in Claremont.
Rest in Peace, John.
Peter Keenan Smalley (Known At CHS As Peter Hoff)
Benny's right, John was a very good guy. We were never close for any long stretch, but I remember many great times with him and around him all the way through school. A wonderful sense of humor, and never shy about using it. The whole In Memory page is shocking of course, but seeing John there was an extra blow. In this old man's memory, he still lives as a happy, fun loving teenager.