Join us in celebrating the life of Jennifer DiMauro by sharing stories, memories, photos, and videos. To honor her legacy, the Jennifer DiMauro Honor Fund for Veterans will provide free assessments and therapy to veterans at the GMU Center for Psychological Services. You can make a donation here: ... see moreJoin us in celebrating the life of Jennifer DiMauro by sharing stories, memories, photos, and videos. To honor her legacy, the Jennifer DiMauro Honor Fund for Veterans will provide free assessments and therapy to veterans at the GMU Center for Psychological Services. You can make a donation here: https://advancement.gmu.edu/DiMauro
She will be remembered as a beloved daughter who never failed to keep her parents on their toes, as a besotted wife with a knack for planning the quirkiest dates, as a doting catmama to Tig and Winnie, as a thoughtful and impressively organized friend, as a dedicated clinician that could not be deterred by even the most stubborn veteran, and as an invaluable teacher and lifeline to first year graduate students. Her life will reverberate through each of us ensuring that the good she brought to the world is not diminished, but continues to grow.
Details will be provided for her memorial services when they are available.
Jen did so much for the Baltimore VA. When she was an intern, she did initial program evaluation on telemental health at our VA. Her work got a lot of praise and attention. Now, the Baltimore VA is creating a brand new telemental health program. I think... moreJen did so much for the Baltimore VA. When she was an intern, she did initial program evaluation on telemental health at our VA. Her work got a lot of praise and attention. Now, the Baltimore VA is creating a brand new telemental health program. I think her project really helped advocate for the program. She was going to help consult on further program evaluation. I am grateful for all that she did and so wish that she was still around so I could pick her brain. That is just one, of many, examples of her contributions and influence. less
Jennifer DiMauro is an amazing person and packs a whole lotta personality into such a petite being. She’s a good person to her core – loving, thoughtful, compassionate… She's truly thoughtful and organized about it– always writing cards when... moreJennifer DiMauro is an amazing person and packs a whole lotta personality into such a petite being. She’s a good person to her core – loving, thoughtful, compassionate… She's truly thoughtful and organized about it– always writing cards when special dates arose (birthdays, anniversaries, etc). For those who know her well, she can be sarcastic, with a dry sense of humor. She’s not only very smart and hard working, but she’s naturally intelligent – with a vocabulary that could stun even the most well-read. Jen likes to read – not only psychological research and articles, but also library books….as in she checks out books from the library (!!). She knows her way around the kitchen – making delicious homemade sushi and great desserts (always keeping in mind which person was allergic to which ingredient). Everyone who knows her knows she loves her cat children and her husband, Kyle. The Jen I know doesn’t judge others – she champions the underdog or mistreated. Her charisma is unmatched and her wisdom enviable.
I use the present tense because she is still around us… I believe just in a different form. Whether Jen may be in Heaven or even reincarnated, I keep her with me, hoping she continues to guide me….I miss you. I love you. Until I see you again. May your soul be at peace. less
Sometimes bad things happen and it just doesn't make any sense. I am sure you had clients go through some of what we are all going through right now. And I am sure their grief was assuaged by your genuineness and empathy. It is sad for me to think about... moreSometimes bad things happen and it just doesn't make any sense. I am sure you had clients go through some of what we are all going through right now. And I am sure their grief was assuaged by your genuineness and empathy. It is sad for me to think about all the clients who will not be helped by your work, but I know that many already have been. I was always envious of your ability to conceptualize cases; I think it is the mark of an excellent clinician. I remember first meeting you at the start of graduate school and liking your fun-loving, nerdy, and compassionate personality. I remember many lines of gchat back and forth as we got to know one another. I remember board game nights together with a six-pack of mike's hard because we both liked sweet drinks. I remember our "escape the room" adventures - some of which were more successful than others. I was excited about the idea of seeing you whenever I visited Boston. You were a special person Jen and you raised up the people around you. I will miss you. Your cohort will miss you. You will always be apart of our cohort and we will always hold you in our hearts. less
There are no words to adequately express the pain or profound sense of loss we are feeling. Jen was one of the kindest, fun-loving, and inspirational women I have been fortunate enough to call my friend. Over the past 7 years we shared some of my most... moreThere are no words to adequately express the pain or profound sense of loss we are feeling. Jen was one of the kindest, fun-loving, and inspirational women I have been fortunate enough to call my friend. Over the past 7 years we shared some of my most happy and proud moments, as well as some painful challenges. I can't imagine having gotten through graduate school without her. Jen had a way of showing up for people that made them feel safe, even when challenges felt insurmountable or things felt like they were falling apart. She had an infectious smile and laugh, and the best quirky sense of humor. I will be forever grateful for the time we spent together going on double dates to the movies, eating sushi from a conveyer belt or a happy hour special, breaking out of escape rooms, losing at penny slots, getting lost trying to find Redwoods, and sharing pictures of our fur babies. less
I met Jen at camp during the summer before 4th grade and we became instant friends. To be able to maintain a friendship with someone for over 20 years is something I cannot say I've done with anyone else, and it shows just how special she was. Over the... moreI met Jen at camp during the summer before 4th grade and we became instant friends. To be able to maintain a friendship with someone for over 20 years is something I cannot say I've done with anyone else, and it shows just how special she was. Over the years we shared more laughs than I can count. With Jen every activity was fun because not only was she hilarious, but she was such a positive person. She was one of the most genuine people I have ever met and I am so grateful that I got to spend so many years being her friend. less
It was a pleasure to work with Jen in her role as a TA for the doctoral Assessment courses for 5 semesters and 3 class groups. She was enthusiastic, organized, and prompt in helping her colleagues complete assessments and write insightful and helpful... moreIt was a pleasure to work with Jen in her role as a TA for the doctoral Assessment courses for 5 semesters and 3 class groups. She was enthusiastic, organized, and prompt in helping her colleagues complete assessments and write insightful and helpful reports. I just emailed her 2 weeks ago to get information to verify her post-doc and submit it to the VA in Boston. Jen wrote that she was excited to move and start her dream job. Jen helped many people and memories of her will continue to inspire us. less
Thank you for letting me be part of your life for 4+ years. Your unwavering commitment to improving the lives of Veterans truly made this world a better place. For you, working with Veterans was much more than a job, and you made that... moreDear Jennifer,
Thank you for letting me be part of your life for 4+ years. Your unwavering commitment to improving the lives of Veterans truly made this world a better place. For you, working with Veterans was much more than a job, and you made that very clear from the first time that I met you in early 2015, when you interviewed for an externship at the DC VAMC. That year, you endured brutal Metro commutes and never (well, rarely) complained, because you knew you were fulfilling your career aspirations. You were the first Mason graduate student to be an extern in our clinic, and you paved the way for three consecutive years of Mason students to follow your path. You later moved twice in two years to ensure that you continued your work with Veterans, and you were about to make yet another sacrifice by moving to work at the Boston VA when your life took an unexpected turn.
I feel so grateful for the times that we shared together. I will always value and appreciate your organization and planning, partly because it validated my own Type A traits. I felt honored that you trusted me to openly discuss the professional challenges that you encountered, and I felt so much pride to hear about all of your successes.
I was looking forward to our mentorship meeting later this morning, and then the phone conversations that would have taken place, after you moved, to discuss the ups and downs of life as an early-career psychologist. Unfortunately, those conversations between us will not happen, which causes me to experience a profound feeling of sadness. That being said, I will fill the void that has been left by becoming even more committed to my work with the Veteran population, because I know that is what you would have wanted.
Having Jen as an advisee for 5 years, and then as a continued colleague for an all-too-brief time after, was a true blessing for me. Over the years, I saw her go through all the ups and downs of graduate school to emerge as a confident, passionate, and... moreHaving Jen as an advisee for 5 years, and then as a continued colleague for an all-too-brief time after, was a true blessing for me. Over the years, I saw her go through all the ups and downs of graduate school to emerge as a confident, passionate, and incredibly skilled clinician and researcher. She never complained (to me) about the countless rounds of changes and edits that come with being a graduate student - although she did rightly call me out when I sent her feedback on a paper literally on the morning of her wedding day (in my defense, I never thought she'd check her email that day!)...
Even in her short time as a clinician, she helped scores of people - and in her time as a supervisor, she helped burgeoning clinical psychologists develop the skills and confidence they need to succeed. It was a joy to see her pursue her passions and succeed - and to simply get to know her more and more as a person over the years. It's an utter tragedy to see her life cut short - but I consider myself lucky to have known her while she was here. My heart aches for her family. less
For 5 years of graduate school, my labtwin and I went through the hardest and most joyful years of our lives together. Most of my waking hours were spent with Jen either face to face or via gchat. There will always be an empty space in my life where my... moreFor 5 years of graduate school, my labtwin and I went through the hardest and most joyful years of our lives together. Most of my waking hours were spent with Jen either face to face or via gchat. There will always be an empty space in my life where my twin should be. However, I am also lucky to be busting at the seams with memories of her explosive laugh, her shut downs of casual misogyny, and cat memes. less