Hobart F. “Red” Thomas

<p>A memorial celebration for Hobart F. “Red” Thomas, will be at 2 p.m. on July 12 at the Commons on the Sonoma State University campus in Rohnert Park.</p><p>Thomas, a humanistic psychologist who helped in the creation of SSU and was an accomplished jazz pianist, died of heart failure on June 10 at a Santa Rosa board and care home. He was 85.</p><p>Thomas was one of 10 San Francisco State College professors who established an extension focusing on training teachers in Santa Rosa in 1956.</p><p>The center evolved into SSU, where Thomas helped found the psychology department and graduate program, both following the humanistic approach developed by his colleague, psychologist Carl Rogers.</p><p>Thomas also helped start SSU’s former School of Expressive Arts.</p><p>His piano repertoire spanned more than six decades, and Thomas played in numerous local bands.</p><p>Sunday’s celebration will start with remembrances by speakers, followed by a Dixieland band performance by musicians who knew Thomas, said his daughter, Annie Samuels of Santa Rosa.</p>