Stan Charnofsky
{{Short description|American psychologist, academic, and baseball coach (1931–2024)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}
Stan Charnofsky (1931–2024) was an American psychologist, educator, and former professional baseball player. He was a professor and administrator at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) for over five decades, significantly shaping the university's Educational Psychology and Counseling programs. Before transitioning into academia, Charnofsky had a notable baseball career, including playing in the minor leagues for affiliates of the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers. He was also the head coach of the CSUN Matadors baseball team from 1962 to 1966. Charnofsky was inducted into the CSUN Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016.
Early life and education
Stanley Charnofsky and his identical twin brother, Harold (Hal), were born on July 11, 1931 in Trenton, New Jersey, to immigrant Jewish parents from Ukraine. The family later moved to Los Angeles, where Charnofsky attended Abraham Lincoln High School. He and his brother both received academic scholarships to the University of Southern California (USC), where they played baseball under legendary coach Rod Dedeaux.{{cite news |last=Geyer |first=Jack |date=6 June 1951 |title=Stan, Hal Charnofsky One-Two Punch for SC |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/166183658 |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=18 March 2025|id={{ProQuest|166183658}} }}{{cite news |last=Bolch |first=Ben |date=23 April 2006 |title=Dedeaux Honored by USC: The Legendary Coach, Who Died in January, was 'the Greatest Trojan of them all,' Lasorda Says |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/2205792605 |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=18 March 2025|id={{ProQuest|2205792605}} }} Charnofsky was an All-Pacific Coast Conference first-team selection and co-captain of the USC baseball team.{{cite web |last=Carroll |first=Ian |date=22 January 2025 |title=Remembering Stan Charnofsky |url=https://news.csun.edu/michael-d-eisner-college-of-education/remembering-stan-charnofsky/ |website=CSUN News & Events |publisher=California State University, Northridge |access-date=18 March 2025}}{{cite web |title=Stan Charnofsky, Member of 1950's CWS All-Decade Team, Dies |date=16 January 2025 |url=https://usctrojans.com/news/2025/1/16/baseball-stan-charnofsky-member-of-1950s-cws-all-decade-team-dies |website=USC Trojans Baseball |publisher=University of Southern California |access-date=18 March 2025}}{{cite web |title=Stan Charnofsky |website=Baseball Reference |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=charno001sta |access-date=March 18, 2025}}
Charnofsky earned his B.S. in Physical Education from USC in 1953, followed by an M.S. in Physical Education in 1958. He later completed an M.Ed. in Counseling (1961) and an Ed.D. in Counseling Psychology (1965), both from USC.{{cite news |author= |date=12 May 1966 |title=Valley State Baseball Coach Resigns Post |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/155429904 |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=18 March 2025|id={{ProQuest|155429904}} }}{{cite news |last=Hoffarth |first=Tom |date=28 August 2017 |title=Dick Enberg's Hall of Fame Roots Trace to the San Fernando Valley and Coach Stan Charnofsky |url=https://www.dailynews.com/2015/07/18/dick-enbergs-hall-of-fame-roots-trace-to-the-san-fernando-valley-and-coach-stan-charnofsky/ |work=Daily News of Los Angeles |access-date=18 March 2025}}
Baseball career
After graduating from USC, Charnofsky signed with the New York Yankees and played seven seasons in the minor leagues, including stints with the Binghamton Triplets and Augusta Tigers. He set an Eastern League double-play record and was briefly called up to the majors. During his career, he also served in the United States Air Force for two years.{{cite news |author= |date=15 June 1951 |title=Princeton Ousted in N.C.A.A. Play, 3-2: Tennessee Downs Tiger Nine with 3 in 7th—Springfield Bows to Oklahoma, 7-1 Tigers Hitless Five Innings Trojans Rout Utah, 8-2 |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/111960065 |work=The New York Times |access-date=18 March 2025|id={{ProQuest|111960065}} }}{{cite web |last=Osborne |first=Cary |date=21 June 2016 |title=Hall of Famer Stan Charnofsky Has Touched All the Bases |url=https://csunshinetoday.csun.edu/athletics/hall-of-famer-stan-charnofsky-has-touched-them-all/ |website=CSUN Today |publisher=California State University, Northridge |access-date=18 March 2025}}
Charnofsky later transitioned into coaching, becoming head coach of the CSUN Matadors baseball team (then San Fernando Valley State College) from 1962 to 1966. In 1965, he led the Matadors to their first conference championship (in the California Collegiate Athletic Association) and had several players drafted into Major League Baseball. Sportscaster Dick Enberg was Charnofsky's assistant coach at CSUN early in his tenure as head coach.{{cite news |author= |date=8 February 1962 |title=New Coach Will Direct State Nine |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/168041516 |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=18 March 2025|id={{ProQuest|168041516}} }}
Academic career
Following his baseball career, Charnofsky became a faculty member at CSUN, where he contributed to the field of counseling psychology. In 1970, he founded the Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling (MFCC) program, now known as Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT). He served as Chair of the Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling, Director of the CSUN Educational Opportunities Program (EOP), and was a pivotal figure in supporting minority students during the campus protests of 1968.{{cite news |last=Estes |first=William W. |date=23 November 1968 |title=VSC Turmoil Blamed on Clash of Cultures: College Director of Program for Minority Students Analyzes Motives of Nov. 4 Event |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/156000213 |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=18 March 2025|id={{ProQuest|156000213}} }}{{cite news |last=Fay |first=Sharon E. |date=24 January 1969 |title=At Valley State: Black, Brown View of White Campus |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/156093138 |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=18 March 2025|id={{ProQuest|156093138}} }}{{cite news |last=Einstoss |first=Ron |date=30 September 1969 |title=Charges in Valley State Trial Called Distorted: Ex-EOP Director Says School Should Support Students |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/156257052 |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=18 March 2025|id={{ProQuest|156257052}} }}
Charnofsky also founded the MFCC/MFT Alumni Network and the Center in Educational Psychology’s Workshop Program in 1983. His teaching and mentorship earned him the CSUN Distinguished Teaching Award in 2016. He retired from his faculty position in 2021 at the age of 89.
Publications and contributions to psychology
Charnofsky was a strong proponent of Humanistic Psychology and the concept of unconditional positive regard. He authored multiple books and academic texts, including Educating the Powerless (1972), When Women Leave Men: How Men Feel, How Men Heal (1992), The Deceived Society (2005), and Therapy with Couples: A Humanistic Approach (2006). He also wrote over 30 novels, short stories, and articles exploring psychological themes.
Personal life
Legacy
Death
External links
- [https://digital-library.csun.edu/csun-leaders/stanley-charnofsky Interview with Stanley Charnofsky in 1991 at California State University, Northridge]
References
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Category:Cal State Northridge Matadors baseball coaches
Category:California State University, Northridge faculty
Category:University of Southern California alumni
Category:Baseball coaches from California
Category:Jewish American baseball coaches