Christian Barneson Hart, PhD
November 19, 1961 � August 26, 2009
Dr. Christian Barneson Hart died on the 26th of August 2009 in Los Angeles. Born in Marin County, California on November 19, 1961, he was 47 years old. He is survived by his father, Archibald Hart III and his wife, Kathy; his brother, Dominick Peterson Hart; and his nephew, Chase Barneson Hart. His mother, Karen Peterson Hart, passed away in April 1984.
Dr. Hart was a dedicated professor of psychology at Santa Monica College (SMC) since 1999. He earned his doctoral degree in clinical psychology from UCLA in 1994, where he received a research fellowship to support his research in psychoneuroimmunology. Before joining the SMC faculty, he had a psychotherapy practice and was a clinical instructor and researcher at UCLA.
His passion and concern for helping others started early in life. In 1983, as an undergraduate at San Diego State University, he co-founded the first, and what would become the largest, social service agency for those impacted by the AIDS epidemic in San Diego County. His commitment to public service and social justice would continue throughout his life.
In 2008, Dr. Hart was honored by the Associated Students and the International Students Program at SMC for his outstanding contributions and mentorship in the lives of students and colleagues.
In 1994, Dr. Hart was recognized for his outstanding service and dedication to mental health with AIDS Project Los Angeles.
He will be dearly missed by his family, friends, colleagues and students; forever remembered as a loving, kind, inquisitive, intelligent, humble, witty, playful, creative, and passionate man with a beautiful smile and a beautiful heart.
A memorial service for Dr. Hart will be held on September 12, 2009 at 11:00am at Santa Monica College, Humanities and Social Science Building, Lecture Hall #165.
In lieu of flowers, his family requests that donations be made in his name to AIDS Project Los Angeles (213.201.1387 or http://www.apla.org) or to Santa Monica College Foundation/ Christian Hart Fund (c/o Lisa Farwell, PhD, Chair Dept of Psychology, Santa Monica College, 1900 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405 or 310.434.4069).
