ASA - American Society on Aging

2007 Awards Programs
Recognizing Excellence in the Field of Aging

Award Winners

2007 Forum on Religion, Sprituality and Aging (FoRSA) Award

The Forum on Religion, Spirituality and Aging (FoRSA) of the American Society on Aging (ASA), is pleased to announce its inaugural Religion, Spirituality and Aging Award, recognizing outstanding individuals, programs, and services in religion, spirituality and aging.

Patrick Cullinane

American Society on Aging
San Francisco , California

Patrick Cullinane was unanimously chosen because of his devotion and passion for FoRSA itself. Through the years Patrick has proven to be absolutely extraordinary in his ability navigate and orchestrate on behalf of FORSA, thus enabling those of us in the field to better do the work we do.

Patrick Cullinane has been active in community health development for over 38 years, including the following: community mental health development program; comprehensive health systems planning; service on the Illinois legislature’s joint committee to facilitate the implementation of legislation to decriminalize public intoxication and establish a statewide network of detoxification facilities, later chairing the state advisory council to oversee implementation; developing Illinois’s first care coordination unit for 2,000 frail elders to maintain them safely at home; at the American Society Aging (ASA), contributing author to The Blues: Not a Normal Part of Aging and developer of ASA’s CD-ROM on late-life depression and suicide; and director of a SAMHSA/CSAP inaugural study of a brief alcohol prevention intervention with at risk older drinkers in traditional aging network settings.

Mr. Cullinane currently directs the Alcohol and Other Drugs and Problem Gambling and aging training contracts for the California Department of Alcohol and Drugs, chairs the Aging Workgroup of the Older Californian Traffic Safety Task Force, and directs ASA’s national civic engagement program. He is the staff liaison to ASA’s constituent group, the Forum on Religion, Spirituality and Aging. Patrick has been active in his faith community, including serving as President of the Board of Trustees of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley. He also is the delivery boy for the neighborhood community newsletter. Patrick is married and has one son. Patrick has a master’s degree in community development from Southern Illinois University and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from St. Louis University.

James W. Ellor, Ph.D., D. Min., LCSW, DCSW, BCD, CGP

Baylor University
Waco, Texas

Jim Ellor was unanimously chosen because he has been a both a visionary and an activist in promoting religious/spiritual aspects of aging. Besides his involvement with FoRSA from its inception in 1988, Jim is also widely published in this field, is an editor, and has been involved in helping to shape public policy.

Jim Ellor is the Director of the Center for Gerontological Studies and Associate Professor in the School of Social Work at Baylor University. Jim joined the Baylor faculty in August of 2004. He is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church, USA, on the pastoral staff of First Presbyterian Church of Waco, Texas.

Previously Jim was Professor of Gerontology and Director of the Center for Positive Aging at National - Louis University for twenty one years. He also served as a part - time on-call chaplain at Edward Hospital. Jim is the Editor of the Journal of Religion Spirituality and Aging and Editor in-Chief of Pastoral Press at the Haworth Press.

His recent books include his forth coming book, Netting, F. E., & Ellor, J. W. (2004). Faith Based Initiatives and Aging Services, Binghamton: The Haworth Press. Other recent books include: McKinlay, Elizabeth, James Ellor, and Stephen Pickard. 2002. Aging, Spirituality and Pastoral Care in the Twenty-First Century: A Multi-National Perspective. Binghamton: The Haworth Press. This book is edited with two Australian colleagues and contains authors from England, New Zealand, the United States and Australia. Other books include Ellor, J., McFadden, S., & Sapp, S. (1999). Tenth Anniversary Issue: Aging and Spirituality. San Francisco: American Society on Aging. Ellor, J., McGilliard, J., & Schroeder, P. (1994). Leading a Congregation in the Aging of Aging: Clergy Training Manual. Washington D. C.: National Council on the Aging. Ellor, J., Netting, E., & Thibault, J. (1999). Understanding Religious and Spiritual Aspects of Human Service Practice. Columbia: The University of South Carolina Press. Kimble, M., McFadden, S. H., Ellor, J. W., & Seeber, J. S. (1995). Aging, Religion and Spirituality: A Handbook. Minneapolis: Fortress Press