By Dr. Anita (Varesio) Lohman (’62) [box sid=”box-1409090879″ style=”color: #234;background-color:#f2e8fb;border:none;”]During her years at Baruch College, Anita Lohman—then Varesio—was extremely active in student affairs. She was president of the Lamport Leaders Society; chancellor of Sigma Alpha; president of her House Plan, Corwin ’62; member of the Beta Gamma Sigma Executive Board; and president of the Intramural Board. In her senior year, she was selected for inclusion in Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities & Colleges. She credits Baruch professor and living legend Irving Greger with inspiring her to have confidence in herself and her abilities. Her tribute follows.[/box] [dropcap sid=”dropcap-1409091820″style=”color: #ae6cf2;”]I[/dropcap]rving Greger was a mentor to me. I will never forget his kind support and encouragement during my years at Baruch. At times, when I didn’t believe I could accomplish something, he told me again and again he knew I could. And he was so right. I lacked confidence in myself and lacked perspective on my abilities.
I came from an Italian immigrant family where no one went to college let alone a female! So I had no inkling of my true potential until I met him.
In fact, I majored in psychology with the goal of becoming a dean of students, inspired by him and his relationships with students. I wanted to give back to other students what I had received at Baruch from Irv and others.
But that specific career was not meant to be. My involvement with clinical psychology began by working with severely emotionally disturbed children, and I was hooked. For 30 years, I helped others through clinical practice, teaching, and research.
I loved my career, and now I have been enjoying retirement for the past 16 years.
About the Alumna
Anita A. (Varesio) Lohman enjoyed a 30-year career as a clinical psychologist. Today she is retired and living in Oregon. In addition to loving the outdoors, Lohman has discovered a previously untapped talent for art. “I enjoy art so much—the process of communicating through color and form things deeply felt and lived . . . . I’m also interested in helping others find their own artist within.”
About Irving Greger
Professor Emeritus Irving “Greg” Greger was a Baruch professor and staff member from 1947 to 1986. He held such jobs as coordinator of student activities, coordinator of freshman activities, associate dean of students, and director of orientation and special programs.
For many alumni, his name is synonymous with House Plan, Lamport House, and the Lamport Leaders Society. Says Greger, who by training is an applied psychologist with expertise in group dynamics, “I relished any job that involved working directly with students.” Greger is retired and living in Long Island.
Note: When Greger heard of this tribute, he immediately launched into memories of Dr. Lohman, whom he called “a brilliant student.” He shared this anecdote: Greger called Anita at home one night to talk with her about Lamport Leader business. Her mother would not connect the administrator with his student leader, saying Anita was not to be disturbed while she was studying. Greger was impressed that both Anita and her family had taken his advice about time management to heart, even if it meant that he could only leave a message for her to call him back.