Steven Fay Kellogg - Obituary

n Loving Memory of Dr. Steven Kellogg It is with great sorrow we announce the passing of Steven “Steve” Fay Kellogg who will be greatly missed for all the gifts he bestowed in the minds, hearts and souls of others and his enduring awe and love of life. Steve died at age 72 on December 13, 2023 at home after having bravely faced and fought the challenges of an unrelenting illness for the past 3.5 years. Steve was born on March 12, 1951 in Paterson, New Jersey and raised in Pequannock, New Jersey. The son of the late Captain Fay Kellogg and Henrietta Johanna Kellogg. Steve shared colorful and interesting stories growing up in Pequannock, such as the antics among him, his older brother and friends and had thought of writing a play or book about his experiences. He excelled academically, socially (he was the Vice President of his Senior Class) and in athletics, particularly football. Steve had a wide variety of job experiences in his early years, beginning with selling vanilla door to door as a cub scout (another interesting story), building swimming pools, restoring antique furniture, driving a school bus, etc, until age 22 when he declared the field of Psychology as his chosen profession. Steve then applied and was accepted to the University of Florida. Steve earned a BA in Psychology from the University of Florida in 1973 and since then has been a devoted Gator fan. Steve earned an MA in Counseling and Special Services - Group Processes from Seton Hall University and was a member of the Kappa Delta Pi National Honor Society in 1977. In 1981 he was accepted into the doctoral program at Argosy University/Illinois School of Professional Psychology in Chicago, Illinois, and graduated in 1986 earning a PsyD, Doctor of Psychology, Clinical. Steve began his work at age 22 in the field of psychology as an attendant and then aide at Greystone State Psychiatric Hospital in New Jersey that began his commitment to serving and advocating for the mentally ill. Steve then worked in various outpatient and community settings to provide counseling, supervision, assessment, and administrative services before moving to Chicago, Illinois in 1980 to pursue a doctoral degree. While living in Chicago, Steve worked full-time from 1980 - 1986 as a Staff Therapist/Court Liaison for the Family Service and Mental Health Center of South Cook County. It is admirable how he managed to work full-time while engaged in a demanding and rigorous doctoral program. While working on his doctoral degree, Steve met his wife, Catherine, at the Give Peace a Chance Dance in Chicago on February 11, 1984 that was reflective of his involvement during his early college years in the peaceful protest of the Vietnam War, supporting those who served and human rights. Ever since that day, Steve and Catherine remained devoted to each other and married on July 16, 1988 in Annapolis, Maryland. In September 1986, Steve and Catherine moved to Maryland where Steve secured an internship at Crownsville Hospital Center and fulfilled all requirements to be a Licensed Clinical Psychologist. Steve was hired as a Clinical Psychologist at the hospital in 1987 and then transitioned to Spring Grove Hospital Center in 2011 where he continued to provide psychological assessments, evaluations, clinical, forensic, neuropsychological, research, supervisory and educational services. Steve represented the psychiatric team in court providing expert testimony and clinical evaluation to determine a patient’s competency to stand trial, criminal responsibility and the provision of competency restoration services. Steve was honored by the Governor of Maryland and the Dept of Mental Health and Hygiene for his “31 years of outstanding service” upon retirement on March 1, 2018. Steve particularly enjoyed providing clinical supervision to interns, externs and Psychology Resident Trainees and was always available to provide support following the completion of their degrees. Steve was proud to have received “Profesor Colaborador” (Associate Professor) from the University De Duesto, Bilbao, Spain in 1996 for his work with the university’s psychology students who interned at Crownsville Hospital Center. In conjunction with his full-time work for the State of Maryland Hospital System, Steve worked part-time in various outpatient settings as a clinician, consultant, and diagnostician. In 1990, Steve established and successfully maintained his own private practice providing Individual, Family, Marital, Group Therapy and Evaluations and Assessments that continued after his retirement from the hospital. He also provided Pro Bono Services to those who could not afford treatment. Toward the end of his career, he provided pre-surgical psychological risk assessments to assist patients in qualifying for effective pain management alternatives to help improve their quality of life. Steve was a member of many professional organizations such as: The American Psychological Association (43 yrs); The National Register of Health Providers in Psychology (33 yrs); Certificate of Professional Qualifications/Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (24 yrs); The National Board of Neuropsychology (17yrs) and was Vice President of the Anne Arundel County Psychological Association from 1996 to 1998. In addition, Steve served as a Board Member for his daughter’s primary school, St Andrew’s United Methodist Day School, for 3 yrs. Steve embraced life to its fullest. He was hard-working, intelligent, curious, thoughtful, determined, dedicated and caring. He loved to give, show appreciation, learn from and be inspired by others, and would go out of his way to lend a helping hand. He never took for granted the work that was necessary to develop and sustain meaningful relationships. All of his strengths, passions, and interests were embedded and thrived within the loving and devoted fabric of family (including canine companions), friendship, community, and the wonder of life. Steve’s absolute joy was being a father and he loved his niece and nephew dearly. Steve had a strong appreciation for Humanity and the planet Earth and their role as teachers, whether on a molecular, physical, and spiritual level or the opposing vastness of the oceans, skies and beyond. Steve was an avid learner and seeker of scientific knowledge although left room for the unveiling of life’s mysteries. Steve had a diverse range of interests including music, the guitar, football, tennis, scuba diving, snorkeling, swimming, downhill skiing, boating, fishing, automobiles, traveling, history, science, current events, reading, crossword puzzles, chess, gardening, nature, art, movies and engaging in a good conversation. Steve was passionate about playing the guitar, had composed his own music, and inspired his daughter to play. They would play together frequently. Kyla will always cherish these memories with her father and continues to enjoy playing the guitar. Steve started playing tennis as a young adult and, when moving to Maryland, became an active member of the tennis community and Bowie Sport Fit, where he formed close friendships. Steve was pleased with how he placed in 2007 in the Final National Ranking of the Men’s 50 tennis division. Steve also would join some of his tennis friends and other car enthusiasts on Miata drives. Steve enjoyed travel and was especially good at making travel arrangements. Some of his most memorable travel adventures included: a family cross-country road trip when he was a young teen, visiting Mexico, and London, a honeymoon in Scotland, family reunions in San Francisco and Sacramento, trips to Niagara Falls, Montreal and Quebec, 2 trips to Hawaii, an Alaskan cruise, and visiting family in Florida. Toward the end of his life, Steve had the opportunity to visit Costa Rica and the Netherlands, where he traced some of his Dutch heritage. The most important, life changing, adventure of all was when Steve and Catherine traveled to China to become the parents of a beautiful and vibrant daughter; their “dream come true”, on July 15,1998. Steve enjoyed being part of the “12 Sisters” adoption group and co-hosted the girls 10 year anniversary in Washington, DC. Steve is survived by his wife, Catherine Blair Kellogg; daughter, Kyla Blair Kellogg; brother and best friend, Dr. Spencer Fay Kellogg; sister-in-law, Martha Kellogg; niece, Krista Fay Kellogg; nephew, Stephen Alexander Kellogg; cousins, Clark, Paul, Fay, Albert, Almer, Linda, and Gary; and canine companion, Chloe. Steve is predeceased by his father, Captain Fay Kellogg, mother, Henrietta Johanna Kellogg, grandmother, Henrietta Johanna Kerpel and devoted canines, Phoebe, Windsor, and Peach. A Celebration of Life and Memorial Service will be held on Friday, February 9, 2024, at Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater, Maryland 21037. There will be a gathering at 11:00 AM until his service commences at 12:00 PM. In memory of Steve, please do what you can to protect humankind and planet Earth. Please leave a condolence for the family by signing the guestbook at the Memories tab on the left side of this page.