ONEONTA - It is with great sadness that Dr. Peter A. DiNardo's family, many friends, colleagues and former students bid him farewell. Peter died unexpectedly at his home on Monday, September 15, 2008.



He was born June 15, 1946 in Schenectady, the son of Silvino and Lena (Pilla) DiNardo.



Peter was a graduate of Linton High School and State University College at Cortland.



Dr. Peter DiNardo was a SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor and recipient of the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching. He was an exceptional teacher, outstanding mentor, superb scholar, premier researcher, and a recognized international expert in clinical psychology.



Pete arrived on the Oneonta campus in 1974 after obtaining his Ph.D. from Washington University, St. Louis, MO. He invested a great deal of his time and energy to his teaching and he especially enjoyed collaborating with his colleagues and students on numerous research projects. Many were presented at professional conferences with several published in prestigious journals. Early on while teaching full-time on the Oneonta campus, he sought additional experience by working as a researcher as well as a mentor to doctoral students (a task he dearly loved) at the Center for Stress and Anxiety Disorders Clinic at SUNY-Albany. He published numerous research articles and wrote chapters for many abnormal psychology textbooks on a variety of different subjects, ranging from phobias to the relationship of anxiety disorders and motion sickness susceptibility. Several of these projects represented a unique way of examining a problem which received the highest praise from top international researchers and colleagues for his insightfulness and clarity. He was impressive in obtaining numerous research grants to support his and his students' research. He played a major role in the revision and development of the section of "Anxiety and Behavioral Disorders" in the most prestigious Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-DSM IV, the only handbook used internationally by all mental health professionals. He developed a formal intake interview schedule that accompanies the DSM IV. This schedule was widely used to identify the actual underlying disorders so that appropriate treatment can be administered. He was an invited presenter on numerous national panels and workshops, including the National Institutes of Mental Health, Health, and Deafness and Communication Disorders in Washington, DC. He received "The Susan Sutton Smith Prize for Academic Excellence" an award on the Oneonta campus that recognizes outstanding faculty achievement in research and scholarship.



He enjoyed playing tennis, sailing and traveling. He was enthusiastic about learning a new language, Italian and loved going to the opera. Peter was also a gourmet cook and an avid cyclist.



He is survived by his wife, Judith M. Waring, whom he married on August 9, 2003 at St. James Episcopal Church; his three cherished pets; his brother, Robert (Ann) DiNardo of Schenectady; his sister, Elaine (Doug) Williams of Schenectady; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Robert and Shirley Waring of Florida; two sisters-in-law, Cynthia Waring (Frank Stroman) of Mansville and Patricia Waring of Syracuse; two brothers-in-law, David Waring of Illinois and Andrew (Maureen) Waring of Ohio; and many nieces and nephews.



He was predeceased by his parents.



Calling hours will be held on Thursday, September 18 from 4 to 8 p.m. and Friday, September 19 from 3 to 4 p.m. at the Lewis, Hurley & Pietrobono Funeral Home, Oneonta.



A celebration of life service will be held at 4 p.m. Friday, September 19 at the funeral home.



A graveside service for family & friends will be held on Monday, September 22 at St. Anthony's Cemetery in Glenville.



In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Dr. Peter A. DiNardo Memorial Fund, c/o Wilber National Bank, 245 Main St., Oneonta, NY 13820 or any Wilber Bank Branch Office or to the SPCA, 4845 Route 28, Cooperstown, NY 13326.



To send an on line condolence to the family or sign the guest book, visit, www.lhpfuneralhome.com



The Lewis, Hurley & Pietrobono Funeral Home, 51 Dietz St., Oneonta, is serving the family.