Longtime mental health physician Dr. Roy Menninger dies at the age of 97

TOPEKA (KSNT) – Dr. Roy Menninger, grandson of the founder of the Menninger Clinic, died a few days before his 98th birthday.

According to his obituary, Roy died on Thursday, October 24, 2024. He was born in Topeka on October 27, 1926, the son of William Claire Menninger and Catharine Wright Menninger. According to his obituary, in his early life Roy was an accomplished Scout and later became an Eagle Scout. He had a passion for music from an early age and grew up playing cello in the local civic orchestra.

At the beginning of World War II, Roy was upset that he could not serve his country, so at the age of 16 he decided to secretly enlist in the army. A recruiting officer in Topeka recognized Roy’s familiar name and rejected his application.

Roy attended Washburn University and George Washington University before graduating from Swarthmore College in 1947, according to his obituary. He graduated from Cornell Medical School in 1951; he later served as a resident at Boston State Hospital before being transferred to Boston Psychiatric Hospital.

Roy assumed a leadership role at the Menninger Foundation in 1967 after the death of his father, Will.

Dr. Roy was a gifted communicator, but he listened more than he talked. Whether he was sharing an informal lunch with employees or meeting with political leaders or Hollywood luminaries, Dr. Roy treated everyone with the same level of compassion and respect. He accumulated much wisdom in his life, and in a humble but direct way he shared powerful insights that could ease troubled hearts and troubled minds.

Excerpt from the obituary statement of Dr. Roy Menninger

Dr. Roy was preceded in death by his parents, William and Catharine, and his brother, Phillip. He is survived by his wife Beverly, brother Walter and family including Heather Visscher (Kirk) of Pacific Grove, California; Brent (Victoria), Overland Park, KS; Ariel McInerney (Joe), Cool, California; Bonar (Ann), Merriam, KS; Fred (Julie), Lawrence, KS; Eric (Karen Hacker), Atlanta; Beth Ann, Topeka, and seven grandchildren: Hana Mayeda, New York; Elias Menninger, New York; Nathaniel Menninger, Atlanta; Wyatt Ohse, Chicago; Henry Ohse, Kansas City; Clare McInerney, San Francisco; and Grace Menninger, New York.

To read Dr. Roy Menninger’s full obituary and to make a donation in lieu of flowers, click here.

For more local news, click here. Stay up to date with the latest news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile application and by signing up for our email notifications with news. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app via by clicking here.