John N. Scholl, clinical psychologist

AS A KID, John N. Scholl had this dream: Someday he would have a house on a lake with a raft outside.

The dream seemed a bit far-fetched in those days because his family had limited funds. But he had become an Eagle Scout and he must have known of his potential to make a success of life.

When he did get his summer house, it wasn't on a lake; it was on a bay. He got his raft after he and his son, Adam, dragged the lumber a mile through the woods. But he also got a sailboat.

John N. Scholl, a clinical psychologist much-loved by his patients, many of whom he helped through numerous crises in a 35-year practice; an Air Force veteran of Vietnam, and a skilled carpenter and handyman who could build a house, died Friday. He was 66 and lived in Penn Valley.

His summer home, which he built, was on Stillpond Creek on the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. There, he enjoyed many excursions in his sailboat.

That is, when he wasn't following his wife, the former Theresa Ovecka, an epidemiologist, on her many trips to Europe for the World Health Organization to give reports on her researches over the past 10 years.

John ran the Whitemarsh Behavioral Health Care Center in Lafayette Hill, where he worked with patients one-on-one and in groups, helping them with anxiety, depression, attention-deficit disorder, drug and alcohol addiction and other psychological problems.

"He was the kind of guy who would be with you to the end," said his son. "His patients knew he would always be there for them."

John was born in Allen Park, Mich., where he got his early education. He graduated from Alma College in Alma, Mich., and later received a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Temple University.

He entered the Air Force in 1962 and served for five years. He was an air-traffic controller and served in Vietnam during the war. He was discharged a captain.

He met his future wife at McGillin's Old Ale House in Center City while he was stationed at McGuire Air Force Base. She also had a Ph.D. from Temple. They married in 1964.

"John built things," Adam said. "He built a family, he built a practice, he built homes, he built garages. And he built people, too.

"I could turn to him for anything," he added. "He would love you without judgment. He might kick your butt, but you knew he loved you and would support you.

"He was a surrogate father to many people."

Jack Shirley, a longtime friend, said, "John did nice things for people that no one knew about, and he didn't talk about them.

"He treated everyone with kindness and courtesy both personally and professionally. Anyone who knew him was touched by him and will forever miss him."

Jack's wife, Carol, was John Scholl's office manager for 10 years.

"John was a genuinely kind and caring person," she said. "He was always ready to lend a helping hand no matter how busy he might have been. His door was always open to anyone who needed him.

"I admired him greatly, and he will be missed by everyone who had the good fortune to know him."

Besides his wife and son, he is survived by a brother, Thomas.

Services: Memorial service at 1 p.m. July 14 at the Shrewsbury Parish Church, Kennedyville, Md. *