Michael Aman

Prof. Michael G. Aman, passed away at home on Sunday morning, December 7, 2025. He died peacefully with his family at his side. Mike was born May 6, 1945 in Rochester, New York to Kenneth and Eunice Aman. He was preceded in death by his parents, and brothers Ken (Lenore) and Tom (Tanya). He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Marsha (Wildemuth), sons Christopher (Crystal) and Stephen, grandchildren (Jacob and Natalie), siblings Dave (June), Mary Denomy (Denny), Steve (Mary), Marty (Jean), and many nieces, nephews, and their spouses.

Mike grew up on the family farm on the shores of Irondequoit Bay as part of a large extended family. When he wasn't cutting rhubarb or picking peaches, he liked to spend his free time fishing in the bay, hunting in the woods, and generally getting up to mischief with his cousins and friends. Mike graduated high school from The Aquinas Institute of Rochester in 1964 and received his B.A. from The University of Windsor in Ontario, Canada in 1968. A course in experimental psychology fueled his interest in the subject, and he enrolled as a graduate student in psychology at The University of Illinois in the fall of 1968. Much to his dismay, however, Mike was drafted into the U.S. Army after his first semester. Fortunately, he was assigned to a dental unit at Fort Dix, New Jersey where he trained for a year before deploying to Thailand. His time abroad awakened a sense of adventure in Mike, and he returned to the U.S. with a deep desire to see more of the world.

Mike re-enrolled at The University of Illinois for spring semester 1971, completing his M.A. degree in 1972. His life reached a turning point when a professor from New Zealand offered him a short-term job setting up a behavior lab in the Psychiatry Department of the new Auckland Medical School. He met his future wife, Marsha, as he was preparing to depart.

This fortuitous offer profoundly shaped Mike's future by reawakening his love of research. Mike and Marsha kept in touch via snail mail during this period, and Marsha joined him in Auckland in the spring of '73. They both fell in love with New Zealand and each other as they explored the countryside. Upon returning to the U.S., they married on August 24, 1974, and just one year later, found themselves flying back to Auckland so Mike could pursue his Ph.D. at the university under Prof. John Werry, his former boss and a leader in the growing field of psychopharmacology. Mike was awarded his Ph.D. in 1979 and stayed on to continue working with Prof. Werry. He learned much during this time about what it means to be a behavioral researcher and in later years he modeled the same characteristics for all those he worked with. This was also when Mike began to collaborate with another young researcher, Dr. Nirbhay Singh. The Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) which they developed is now one of the most common behavior rating scales used in the field of developmental disabilities and autism.

Their stay in New Zealand was a time of personal growth for both Mike and Marsha. Without extended families to help, they were forced to be self-reliant. They learned the art of comprise and how to support one another during the inevitable homesickness that occurs when separated from much loved family. It was also a time of great happiness when they welcomed two sons, Chris and Stephen, into their home.

Chris and Stephen brought great joy to Mike. Watching them grow and develop to adulthood was an ever-constant source of pride (and occasional consternation) for him. He relished showing them the delights of the New Zealand countryside as the family hiked through beautiful forests, explored the many beaches near Auckland, and spent numerous weekends at a rustic cabin north of Auckland. Mike's fishing forays were limited once the boys arrived, but one memorable vacation spent in the Bay of Islands was noteworthy for being the start of Chris's lifelong passion for fishing and a career as a fisheries biologist. Once his sons became adults, Mike became a friend and mentor. He loved them deeply and took great pride in their accomplishments.

By 1987, economic conditions in New Zealand had made research funding difficult to find and the future uncertain. Consequently, Mike and Marsha decided to return to the U.S., where he accepted a position as Assistant Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at The Nisonger Center for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities at Ohio State University. He was promoted to full professor in 1993 and remained at OSU until he retired January 1, 2013.

During the family's time in central Ohio, they continued to participate in the outdoor activities they enjoyed so much. Instead of going to the seaside, they visited lakes in Michigan, Minnesota, and Canada. Instead of hiking the hills near Auckland, they hiked the hills of state parks in Ohio and near the Aman family hunting cabin in New York. Most of all, Mike loved attending the annual Aman reunion (or "Pig Roast") each August.

Mike's time at Ohio State was a period of prodigious work output. After setting up a new lab, he continued his work in psychopharmacology with children, gradually focusing primarily on children with autism. Mike's concern for the children and families involved was always paramount. He frequently gave his home phone numbers to parents and invited them to call with their concerns. He strove to give care above and beyond what was expected. Mike was generous with praise and always sought to credit his team for their success rather than only just himself.

Mike was also a popular advisor to graduate students and unselfish with his time. He spent numerous hours meeting with students, editing their thesis and dissertation drafts, and helping to get them published. He mentored his students as he was mentored by Prof. Werry and sincerely wanted them to become successful professionals in their own right. During Mike's tenure at Ohio State, he proudly guided approximately 20 Masters and 25 Ph.D. students through to graduation.

Lastly, Mike believed in giving back to the field more broadly. He served on the editorial boards of 13 journals and seldom turned down a submission outright. Instead, he criticized when necessary but also provided suggestions on how a paper might be improved. Over the course of his academic career, he edited three books and authored approximately 325 journal articles. For his efforts, Mike received several awards including: The Herschel W. Nisonger Life-Time Achievement Award (1994), Career Research Scientist (2003), and the Edgar A. Doll Award from the American Psychology Association ( 2011).

Mike, Marsha, and Stephen moved from their home in Westerville, Ohio to New Franklin, Ohio in 2021 where they settled in a home on nearly three acres of heavily-treed, semi-rural property located just five miles from Chris and Crystal. "Aman's Grove," as Mike dubbed it, quickly became his little bit of heaven on earth. Most importantly he was excited to have his entire family together again and always looked forward to the frequent family gatherings.

In August 2019 Mike was diagnosed with a meningioma (non-malignant brain tumor) and had immediate surgery to remove it. Unfortunately, Mike learned in September 2023 that remnants of the tumor were growing again causing increasing pressure in critical parts of his brain. Several treatments ultimately failed, and he enrolled in hospice last June. Mike was well enough to enjoy one last summer and the early autumn sitting among the trees while watching the squirrels, listening to the birds and farm animals, and spending time with his beloved Marsha, his immediate family, and all his siblings and friends who visited or called.

Mike requested that a "Celebration of Life" be held at a later date when weather concerns are less likely to cause travel disruptions. A date has not been finalized, but the celebration is tentatively planned for late March when the daffodils begin to bloom.