John Paul De Cecco (April 18, 1925 – November 2, 2017) was an American academic. He was a professor of psychology at San Francisco State University, the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Homosexuality from 1975 to 2009, and a "pioneer of sexuality studies."
John Paul De Cecco | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 18, 1925 Erie, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | November 2, 2017 (aged 92) San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Allegheny College University of Pennsylvania Michigan State University |
| Occupation(s) | Professor of psychology, author, editor |
Early life
editJohn Paul De Cecco was born on April 18, 1925, in Erie, Pennsylvania.[1] He had four siblings,[2] and he was of Italian descent.[1] His father was a restaurant and property owner.[3] His three maternal uncles were members of the Mafia who "married prostitutes."[4]
De Cecco graduated from Allegheny College, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology in 1946.[2] He subsequently earned a master's degree and a Ph.D. in European history from the University of Pennsylvania, in 1949 and 1953 respectively.[2] He took additional coursework in educational psychology at Michigan State University.[2] He also attended Columbia University in 1968–1970.[3]
Academic career and political activism
editDe Cecco became an assistant professor of education and psychology at San Francisco State University in 1960.[1] He eventually became a full professor of psychology.[1]
De Cecco took part in the opposition to United States involvement in the Vietnam War.[4] He was a member of the Gay Activists Alliance and the faculty adviser of the Gay Students Coalition at SFSU, co-founded by Mark Thompson.[4] With Michael G. Shively, De Cecco was the co-founder of the Center for Homosexual Education, Evaluation and Research (CHEER) at SFSU in 1975.[2] De Cecco served as editor-in-chief of the Journal of Homosexuality from 1975 to 2009.[1] Additionally, he was a "member and sponsor" of the GLBT Historical Society.[4]
De Cecco was the author of several books.
Personal life, death and legacy
editDe Cecco resided in the Potrero Hill neighborhood of San Francisco,[4] where he died on November 2, 2017,[1] at age 92. He was described as a "pioneer of sexuality studies"[1] who had been "in the forefront of three decades of change in gay-related academia".[3]
He received the 1992 Magnus Hirschfeld Medal.
Selected works
edit- De Cecco, John Paul; Sycamore, Matt Bernstein (2014), Tricks and Treats: Sex Workers Write About Their Clients, Taylor and Francis, ISBN 978-1317713005
- De Cecco, John Paul; Letellier, Patrick; Island, David (2013), Men Who Beat the Men Who Love Them: Battered Gay Men and Domestic Violence, Taylor and Francis, ISBN 978-1317765509
- De Cecco, John Paul; Wright, Les (2013), The Bear Book: Readings in the History and Evolution of a Gay Male Subculture, Taylor and Francis, ISBN 978-1317712404
- De Cecco, John Paul; Peniston, William (2012), Pederasts and Others: Urban Culture and Sexual Identity in Nineteenth-Century Paris, Haworth Gay & Lesbian Studies., Taylor and Francis, ISBN 978-1136572920
- De Cecco, John Paul; Shively, Michael G (1985), Origins of Sexuality and Homosexuality, Harrington Park Press, ISBN 9780918393005
- De Cecco, John Paul (1984), Homophobia: An Overview, Journal of Homosexuality, vol. 10 (1984) no. 1-2.; Research on Homosexuality, vol. 10, Haworth Press, ISBN 9780866563567
- De Cecco, John Paul; Richards, Arlene (1974), Growing Uses of School Conflict, Aberdeen Press, ISBN 9780879450298
- De Cecco, John Paul (1967). The Psychology of Language, Thought, and Instruction: Readings. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston.
- De Cecco, John Paul, ed. (1964). Educational Technology: Readings in Programmed Instruction. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.
- De Cecco, John Paul (1963), Human Learning in the School: (Readings in educational psychology), New York, OCLC 1011145672
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g "PASSAGES John Paul De Cecco, pioneer of sexuality studies, dies at 92 From San Francisco State University". Windy City Times. November 12, 2017. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e "Guide to the John Paul De Cecco Papers, 1923-1999". Online Archive of California. Retrieved November 13, 2017.
- ^ a b c Ford, Dave (June 28, 2002). "Queer Pioneer / S.F. State Professor John De Cecco, 77, leads the gay-studies charge". The San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved November 13, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e Guthmann, Edward (May 10, 2007). "S.F. State professor of sexuality class lived the life -- and still does at 82". The San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved November 13, 2017.