Dr. Ronald William Maris

Dr. Ronald William Maris, 87, of Columbia, passed away on August 21, 2023. Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on August 14, 1936, he was the eldest son of the late George William Maris and Opal Ollie Spicer Maris. He leaves behind his loving wife of 51 years, Beth Troy Maris. Dr. Maris was a Professor Emeritus, researcher, author, and internationally renowned expert in the study of suicide, suicide prevention and forensic suicidology. Over his six-decade career, he wrote 27 books; taught and mentored thousands of students, residents, and fellows; served as an expert witness or consultant on more than 300 legal cases; and influenced countless lives. Dr. Maris founded and directed the University of South Carolina Center for the Study of Suicide, which he ran from 1985 until 2001. He became a full professor at age 35 and also served as Chair of Sociology and Adjunct Professor of Family Medicine and Psychiatry at the University of South Carolina from 1973 to 2001. He taught courses in suicide assessment, suicide prevention, and Psychiatry. Dr. Maris also served as a Lecturer in Psychiatry at the Medical University of South Carolina from 1973 to 1980. From 1969 to 1973, Dr. Maris was Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University, where he created and directed their M.D.- Ph.D. program in Psychiatry. In addition, he was an Assistant Professor at Dartmouth University from 1966 to 1968. Dr. Maris was the primary author or editor of several books that had particularly significant impact on his field: Pathways to Suicide (1981), Social Problems (1988), Assessment and Prediction of Suicide (1992), Comprehensive Textbook of Suicidology (2000), Pillaged: Psychiatric Medication and Suicide Risk (2015) and Suicidology: A Comprehensive Biopsychosocial Perspective (2019). Dr. Maris served as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior for 18 years and was the Editor of The Annual Review of Suicidology (1996-99). In 1981, he received the Russell Research Award for Pathways to Suicide, which was later recognized as one the most important books on suicide of all time. Dr. Maris earned a Ph.D. in social psychology/sociology from the University of Illinois. He completed five years of postdoctoral training in psychiatry and suicidology at Johns Hopkins Medical School, had five years of psychiatric education as a post-doctoral fellow, received clinical suicide prevention training at the Los Angeles Suicide Prevention Center and was a World Health Organization Fellow in West Berlin, Germany. In addition, Dr. Maris was a Yale Foundations Fund Fellow in Psychiatry in Vienna, Austria, was awarded the Killam Fellowship in Psychiatry (equivalent to the U.S. Fulbright Fellowship in Canada), and was board-certified in Forensic Suicidology. He also completed a graduate scholarship in Philosophy and Religion at Harvard University Divinity School. An athlete for much of his life, Dr. Maris was an accomplished basketball player, high jumper, and hurdler in high school and college. In 1965, he won the men’s Illinois state amateur archery championship and the Southwestern Archery Tournament in Arizona, which qualified him for the Olympic trials. As a faculty member at the University of South Carolina, he trained for marathons with a group of fellow professors, running 50 to 70 miles a week. In 1977, Dr. Maris ran the Washington, D.C. Marathon in three hours and 30 minutes and also completed the Boston Marathon in 1978. In later life, he fed his competitive streak by playing professional poker under the moniker “Suicide King” (a double reference to his profession and the King of Hearts). Dr. Maris was also a fan of professional sports. He loved watching the Atlanta Braves, the Carolina Panthers, college football and basketball, and was an avid fan of USC Gamecocks football and USC women’s basketball. Until well into his 80’s, he remained as physically active as possible, often exercising an hour a day at home. Ron Maris’ family remembers him for his brilliant mind, his philosophical outlook on life, his work ethic and determination, and his playful attitude and wit. He was still making jokes in the last few days of his life. Ron mentioned to his palliative care doctor that he was considering headstone epitaphs like: “I told you I was sick” and “RWM: Member of the placebo group,” which made everyone laugh. Most of all, Ron Maris was characterized by his deep love for life and for his family. Ron’s wife Beth Troy Maris has been his devoted partner and later caretaker during recent health challenges. They have shared countless adventures in their half a century together, big and small, from traveling all over the world to boating and bass fishing and running races together in their early years. The wealth and breadth of their shared experiences is impossible to capture in words, yet one thing was clear, Beth truly was Ron’s entire world and the light and “love of his life,” as he affectionately called her. In addition to his wife, Dr. Maris is survived by his daughters, Elizabeth Anne Maris (the Honorable Howard Baum), Catherine Lynn Maris (Dr. David Reiner), the Honorable Amanda Leigh Maris (Kim Schooley), and Dr. Gabriella Eliese Maris (Dr. Ilan Sondheimer); grandchildren, Sarah Elana Baum, Abigail Esther Baum, Jonah Maris-Schooley, Yael Lillian Sondheimer, and Ari Natan Sondheimer; and brother, Dr. Terry Lee Maris. Along with his parents, he is preceded in death by his sister, Carol Maris Dycus. The graveside service for Dr. Maris will be held Tuesday, August 22nd, 10 am at Hebrew Benevolent Society Cemetery, 714 Blanding Street, Columbia, SC. Shiva services will be at announced times. Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, is assisting the family. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to your local suicide prevention hotline or the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: https://afsp.org. A livestream will be available at the time of the service at: https://www.shivesfuneralhome.com/current-webcast/.

Tributes

Dr. Ronald William Maris

August 14, 1936 - August 21, 2023