Remembering Dr. Randall Sorenson
I was shocked and deeply, deeply saddened to hear of Randy's untimely death. I always enjoyed my contacts with Randy over the years, and I was pleased to call him a friend. He was such a dynamic, warm, and vibrant individual with gifts in great abundance - in his teaching, in his therapy, in his contact with and committment to people in his community, and in his real love for the Lord. What a tremendous, tremendous loss - for his family, for Rosemead, for his church and community, and for the profession. He will be greatly missed.
- William H. Watson, Ph.D.
A Tribute to Randall Lehmann Sorenson
Delivered by Keith Edwards at the Memorial Service for Randy on Saturday, January 29th.
It is my privilege to represent the Rosemead School of Psychology at Biola University in paying tribute to the life and legacy of our colleague and friend, Randall Lehmann Sorenson. Thank you, Anita, for entrusting me with this opportunity. In preparing to share what Randy meant to the Rosemead community, I was overwhelmed with the enormity of the task. As is evident by the size of this gathering today, Randall Lehmann Sorenson occupied a very large relational universe. If we had a chance to get to know one another we would quickly come to see the breadth of his personal space. He was truly an amazing man and one of a kind.
Being a psychotherapist was Randy's primary professional identity and doing therapy his core professional passion. His relational analytic perspective on therapy communicated his deep respect for his patients' courage to share themselves with him in their pursuit of wholeness. Therapy was always, for Randy, a moment of contact and growth for both the therapist and the patient. It was in the consulting room that Randy experienced true integration, where there was no boundary between secular and sacred, psychological and spiritual. Therapy for Randy was intellectually challenging, spiritually transcendent and intensely personal. Except for his wife and children and his relationship with the Lord, his patients occupied the most intimate terrain of Randy's life.
His teaching and research were really his way of sharing his journey as a therapist with others who were on the same professional path. As a teacher, he was like an adventurer sharing with his students the excitement of his most recent trek and, in that process, enabling the students to pursue with more competence, their own paths. We are thankful that he chose to do this at Rosemead.
Randy was an avid reader as well as a prolific and gifted writer. He inspired me as his colleague to pursue my own journey with passion and excellence. I would regularly go to the book store at the beginning of the semester and check out the books he had selected for his classes that term. I bought three of his most recent offerings. I extend my apologies to the students if the book store ran out of text books for that class. What I want to know is how he found the time to read and write as much as he did!
His most enduring legacy will be that he did much to advance the respectful and deep exploration of a patient's spirituality in the therapeutic process. This was the "ministry" to which he felt called and it is the contribution for which he is most profoundly valued as a member of the Rosemead community. His writings will live on as his legacy to us all. Someone has said that no one is indispensable. Rosemead School of Psychology will go on after Randy’s death and others will step forward to make their contributions to the education of Christian psychologists. So while Randy was not indispensable, he is, in my experience, irreplaceable. His contributions to the program and to the lives of the students flowed from a rare combination of personal passion and extraordinary giftedness. When Tiger Woods took the professional golfing world by storm, a veteran golfer made the comment, “He plays a game, I know not of.” This was my experience in witnessing Randy’s unfolding career over the past 20 years at Rosemead. He lived life at a level to which few of us can aspire and all of us can greatly admire. It has been my profound privilege to serve with him as a colleague and to know him as a friend. Randy, well done, good and faithful servant!
Anita, Alden, and Morgan - thank you for sharing your husband and dad with us.
- Keith J. Edwards, Ph. D., Ph. D.
I realized following your call that Randy probably had more professional influence on me than anyone except Ev. I remember meeting me for the first time at CAPS in Richmond, where I also met you for the first time. I couldn't believe his sincere interest and curiosity in my thinking even as a grad student at the time. He later came to one of my presentations and afterward was complimentary. But he must have sensed he needed to make his point more strongly or diagnosed a bit of my stiff shyness because he grabbed my tie and gave it a couple of jerks as he affirmed me more emphatically. His amazing mind was surpassed by his capacities to relate.
- Steve Sandage, Ph.D.
Dr. Sorenson was the best professor I ever had. His wisdom, humor, availability, and devotion to Christ set him apart. I remember in-class conversations about Saabs, Macintosh computers, compassion, and faith. I also remember out of class times, such as lunch with Randy in the Cafe. He will be greatly missed. May the Lord comfort and bless is family. Thanks,
- Hunter Hansen, Psy.D. (2002)
It is with a great sense of loss that I read about Randy Sorenson's tragic and untimely death. My thoughts and prayers go out to Anita, Alden and Morgan. Their loss is truly too deep and sad for words to express. Randy had a profound impact on me. I was very fortunate to be in two classes that he taught. His energy, enthusiasm, and deep respect for people was remarkable. He also imparted a sincere belief in the healing power of therapy that inspired me to see what is possible for all people. His passing is a great loss. Truly,
- Michael Quirk, Psy.D.
On Saturday, the day of Randy's funeral, I taught a class in Counseling Theory. Part of the lesson was for me to present my clinical model or my theoretical orientation. As I stood in front of my class (in a secular school) and stated I was an Evangelical Christian and here is how I view human nature, development, health, pathology, and treatment within this often misunderstood frame, I was struck by two thoughts: 1) I am not sure I would have the courage and confidence to stand up in a secular university and make bold proclamations that I know are unpopular and 2) I know for a fact, I would not have the vocabulary, knowledge, skill, or ability to deliver such a model if it had not been for Randy Sorenson. In so many ways, Randy inspired me (and taught me how) to be one who boldly spoke grace and truth to both the Church and to the World.
- Mark W. Matthews, Ph.D. (1999)
You said that most professors in clinical psychology are “either narcissistic or schizoid”
To remind us the humanness inside all of us
And to inspire us to believe that our dreams are attainable
You said that all our clients have “fecal detector”
To encourage us to strive to be the best we can be
And to urge us to be real in the midst of pain
You said that integration is “caught not taught”
To invite us to the power of relationships
And to mind us that a genuine relational experience is the most healing thing we can offer for each other
The memories you co-created with us now speak for themselves.
In the grip of the One who took you to His side, may we continue to love life as you did.
- Shirley L., Rosemead student (4th year)
For the past 14 years Randy has been a beloved professor, mentor, friend, and generous colleague to me. I learned so much from him about what integration truly is; he lived it every day and passionately communicated his life and message through his clinical practice, teaching, scholarship, and service. Randy's life was about relationship; with his family, friends, patients, students, colleagues and so many others. It strikes me as signature of his life that he died mid-sentence talking to a patient. Randy died doing what he lived to do: connect. Even as I wept hearing the news last Friday and my heart broke for Anita and Alden and Morgan, I could not help but rejoice for Randy. He has passed the threshold into eternity. I grieve with those who are, for now, left behind. His absence will be sorely felt by so many on so many levels. My prayer is that his legacy will live on in those of us whose lives he touched and helped to transform. Well done, Randy! You were a good and faithful servant. I will miss you very much. With love to his family,
- Theresa Tisdale, Ph.D. (1997)
Randy was truly one of a kind. His transparency, scholarship, and enthusiasm for integration was an inspiration to me, as well as to many others. He was a true lover of God, a beloved husband and father, an engaging professor, a caring clinician, a prolific author and researcher, and a truly delightful speaker. I never tired of listening to him. He spoke just as he wrote--in sesquipedalian terms--yet remained wonderfully down-to-earth in the process. He was always willing to share, particularly with students. For example, last January Randy donated a Saturday morning to the So Cal Student Chapter of CAPS (counselors-in-training from Azusa Pacific University, Biola University, California State University-Fullerton, Fuller Theological Seminary, First Evangelical Free Church of Fullerton, Pepperdine University, Talbot Seminary, and Vanguard University). He talked openly with more than 60 who gathered at Rosemead to dialogue with a trio of student-selected professors (Randy; Dr. Theresa Tisdale, Azusa Pacific University; Dr. Al Dueck, Fuller Theological Seminary) on the topic of "Internalizing Integration." The focus was on the importance of one's personal relationship with God and relationships with others for understanding and "doing" integration, and Randy's candid and very personal participation was, as always, a great encouragement. We wish we could have had him with us a while longer. He is greatly missed.
- Debi Smith, Psy.D. (2003)
Randy was an incredible influence in so many lives, and he immediately turned on its head what we in our first Rosemead class thought psychology and integration are all about. Randy was an example for many students as to what being a Christian in the world of psychology is all about. He was truly an ambassador for Christ, entering into many "secular" corners of the psychology world and openly and brightly shining a light for Christ. My heart and prayers go out to his family and so many who loved and looked up to Randy Sorenson. I thank the Lord for Randy's example and his influence on this earth, and I praise Him that Randy loved the Lord with his whole being. Heaven is growing brighter, but this earth has grown dimmer without Randy. He will be greatly missed.
- Dr. Marc Houck, Psy.D. (2001)
Randy Sorenson was a brilliant man. He gave his heart and soul to the things he believed in. He lived passionately, taught passionately, and spoke passionately about the intimate journey we participate in called therapy. Randy was an example in all areas of his life. His faith was inspirational; his commitment to scholarship and research was outstanding. He exemplified a balanced life amidst his many commitments to speaking, teaching, seeing clients and loving his family. He was a man whose life embodied the integration of psychology and theology. At Rosemead he shook up our worldview and helped us to see the world from a more flexible stance; then he showed us how to become a psychologist, a lover of souls. I praise God that he was a prolific writer and speaker, so we will be able to continue to hear his voice. His light has truly touched so many lives. Randy, we miss you. You touched so many lives in your short time on this planet. Because you touched our lives we will carry your legacy to our c lients, family, friends and colleagues. Thank you for being such an amazing man and mentor.
- Alisa Shanks, Ph.D. (2002)
Dr. Randall Sorenson's Memorial Service
Dr. Randall Sorenson's Memorial Service was on Saturday, January 29 at Pasadena Presbyterian Church.