Detroit, MI - Joseph P. Hourihan died on Sunday, Dec. 5, in Buffalo, N.Y. A mass will be said on Friday, Dec. 31, 2004, at St. Dominic's Catholic Church, 4844 Trumbull Ave. at Warren Avenue, Detroit. While Dr. Hourihan was a native of Buffalo, he spent most of his professional life in Metropolitan Detroit.
He received his bachelor of science degree from Buffalo State College in 1939. Dr. Hourihan was awarded his master's degree in 1942 and his doctoral degree in education in 1952, both from Wayne State University. He was granted his MSSW degree from the Columbia University School of Social Work in 1948. He taught elementary school in Grosse Pointe, Mich., from 1939 to 1942, and after he returned from World War II, from 1945 to 1946. During World War II, from 1942 to 1945, he served with the 11th Air Force in the Aleutian Islands.
In 1948, Dr. Hourihan became a "visiting teacher" (now called a school social worker) in the Grosse Pointe School System, where he served until 1958. He joined the Wayne State University School of Social Work faculty in 1953 and taught part time in the School of Social Work and the College of Education until 1958, when he was appointed associate professor in the School of Social Work. He was promoted to full professor in 1963. He served as the assistant dean of the School of Social Work from 1968 to 1970, and as associate dean until his retirement, when he was named professor emeritus.
Dr. Hourihan's work was nationally known and instrumental in defining the role of school social workers, and he taught courses in social work practice methods throughout his tenure at Wayne State University. He was active in the community as a board member or trustee of the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) for more than 40 years. He was elected president of the CYO Board twice, and received the Joe Glazer Award for outstanding service as a board member. In addition to his ecumenical activities for the Archdiocese of Detroit, he was a founding board member of the United Way agency now called Caregivers.
Working with students was his great joy, and in 1999 he established a scholarship fund at the Wayne State University School of Social Work to financially support students interested in pursuing careers as social workers in inner-city schools.
Dr. Hourihan's remains will be interred in Buffalo, where he lived for the past few years. He is survived by his sister, Mary Meeghan of Buffalo, several nephews and many grand nephews and grand nieces, as well as generations of school social workers whom he taught.
Contributions may be made to a charity of your choice or you may make a tax-deductible contribution to the Joseph P. Hourihan Endowed Scholars Award. For more information, please contact Marguerite Carlton, School of Social Work Office of Development, at (313) 577-8807.