Sines, Jacob Oliver

Jacob Oliver Sines, born June 30, 1927, in St. Paul, Minn., to the late Floyd and Lucile Sines, died Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009, at Mercy Hospice, Iowa City.

He was preceded in death by his sister, Elizabeth Ferguson; and brothers-in-law, Ira Ferguson and Harold Parker.

Jacob is survived by his loving family, wife of 58 years Janice; children, Elizabeth (Richard) Schnieders, William (Joy Boyle), James (Sherry) and Margaret (David Jacobs); grandchildren, Caroline Schnieders (Yvette Soignier), Margaret (Chad) Marshall, Thomas, Benjamin and Lauren Sines, and Elizabeth and Jacob Smith; brother, Lloyd Sines; sister-in-law, Joan Parker; and nieces and nephews.

Jacob served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. With the help of the GI Bill, Jacob received his bachelor's degree in Psychology at the University of Minnesota in 1949, followed by a master's in Educational Psychology at Minnesota (1951), and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Michigan State (1955). He subsequently held faculty memberships at Washington University in St. Louis, the University of Missouri, and Case Western University. He joined the University of Iowa Psychology Department in 1970, serving as director of Clinical Training until 1975, and as a professor in the Division of Clinical Psychology, until his retirement in 1999.

---- Jacob was a dedicated and challenging teacher, fondly remembered by his students, and was recognized in 1989 as Professor of the Year by Psi Chi, the Undergraduate Honor Society in Psychology. His commitment to the department and to his profession also was evidenced by service on the Departmental Ethics Committee and on the Iowa Board of Psychology Examiners. His research interests were broad and spanned the assessment of home environments, psychological testing, animal models of stress, child and adult psychopathology and personality. He authored and validated several assessment instruments that provide objective, standardized measures of childhood behavior, personality and family environment.

He was an avid hunter and fisherman, and enjoyed national and international travel with his wife Janice, family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Pheasants Forever, the University of Iowa Psychology Department Foundation, Iowa Hospice or other charitable organization.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at

A celebration of his life will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service, Iowa City, with remembrances at 6 p.m.