Charles Healey remembered for impact as teacher, researcher in speech-language pathology

15 Jul 2024     By Kelcey Buck

E. Charles Healey, professor emeritus in the Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, is being remembered for his contributions as a teacher, researcher, colleague and friend. Healey died June 26, 2024, at his home in Florida at the age of 75. 

“Charlie was an excellent teacher who cared about all his students, ensuring they would learn to the best of their ability,” said John Maag, Larry and Sharon Roos Professor of Special Education. “But Charlie was also the consummate colleague. He was a friend to all and would lend a helping hand any way he could.” 

Healey retired from SECD in 2014 after a 37-year career at UNL. His research and teaching focused on fluency, voice, anatomy and physiology. Healey was an expert in serving children and adults who stutter or had various types of voice disorders. At the time of his retirement, Healey was one of 70 board-certified stuttering specialists in the United States and one of just two in Nebraska. 

“Dr. Healey was one of my favorite instructors as a student,” said Kristy Weissling, SECD interim chair and professor of practice. “He was a master at making difficult content seem easy. His classroom was open and airy and full of life. We learned and we were at ease.” 

Healey developed the CALMS assessment, a nationally known assessment tool for school-age children who stutter. CALMS stands for Cognitive, Affective, Linguistic, Motor and Social. The assessment examines how each of the five factors contributes to a student’s unique pattern of stuttering, allowing practitioners to better serve students. 

“When my son had challenges with stuttering, Charlie personally oversaw every aspect of his therapy at the Barkley Center,” Maag said. “After about a year my son was completely fluent with no signs of stuttering remaining and therapy was terminated. He was always there and always asked how my son was doing, even after he’d completed therapy. He cared so much about students, colleagues, and their families.” 

Healey was a fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, a lifetime designation that recognizes professional or scientific achievement regarded as outstanding contributions within and beyond one’s community or state. 

“Charlie was always willing to collaborate with me on clients that were looking to improve their spoken communication, but never seemed to be collaborating to be ‘in the spotlight,’” said Alicia Davis, lecturer in SECD. “I admired his interest in our shared clients as people first.” 

In 2013, he was the recipient of the Donald R. & Mary Lee Swanson Award for Teaching Excellence, the highest teaching honor awarded in CEHS. He was also a past recipient of the Distinguished Teaching Award. Prior to Nebraska, Healey completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Kentucky and his Ph.D. at Purdue University, both in speech pathology. 

A celebration of life will be held from 3-5 p.m. July 27, at Hillcrest Country Club, 9401 E. O St. in Lincoln. Click here to view the obituary.