Colin P. Silverthorne passed away peacefully on January 27, 2026, at his home, surrounded by his loving family. His passing followed a long and courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease. Colin was Professor Emeritus of Psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences.
In his 50 years at the University, he wore many hats, including Dean of the College of Professional Studies, Chair of Psychology three different times, and leadership roles in the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities Summer and Continuing Education Division. He had extensive experience in university leadership, strategic planning, and institutional advancement. He also played a central role in institutional planning and governance, including serving as faculty representative for the renovation of Kalmanovitz Hall.
Of his many professional roles, Colin most cherished being an educator. He taught many courses in Statistics, and wrote the textbook Common Sense Statistics, which made difficult statistical concepts intuitive for students. In addition, he taught Advanced Research Methods, Social and General Psychology, Human Groups, Psychology of Interracial Relations, and many other courses. Throughout his tenure, he mentored many students, faculty, and staff. He was the recipient of the Frank Beach Award in 2004, awarded to a faculty member in recognition of their outstanding leadership in service to the College over the course of their career at USF.
Colin was a prolific scholar, whose many publications addressed how leaders could be more effective in universities and businesses by facilitating better communication, lower stress work environments, and higher job satisfaction. His most recent work, inspired by his own yoga practice, focused on how yoga improves mental health and potentially helps people to recover from brain injuries.
Please hold Colin's family - his wife, Deanna; his daughter, Wendy (Rob), his son, Adam (Dina) and his grandsons - in your thoughts and prayers at this time in gratitude for his life, his fifty years in academe, his dry British sense of humor and his quiet strength that spoke through action. May he rest in peace.
A private family gathering will be held to honor Colin’s life. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Larkspur Library, PD Connect or Stress Management Center of Marin in his honor.