Class of 1961

DR. MOLLY O’NEILL LOUDEN 

1961 graduate Dr. Molly O’Neill Louden was a leader early on during her years at Riverview High School. She joined Student Council as a sophomore, becoming president of her class. Molly became Student Council vice president during her junior year, and was president her senior year. Molly also excelled as a cheerleader at Riverview, culminating in her selection as captain her senior year, and was Senate President for Girls’ Nation.  

After graduation, Molly attended the University of Florida and later graduated summa cum laude from Florida Southern College, majoring in psychology. Her education continued at Yale Divinity School, graduating in 1983 with a Master’s in Divinity, and in 2002, with a Doctorate in Pastoral Psychology.   

Dr. Louden’s spiritual journey was impacted by an event while living in the south during the 1960’s. She led a summer vacation school for her church, but only agreed to do so if it was integrated. While the school program was a success, Molly was blackballed from her community’s leading women’s organization.  

Louden and her family moved to Connecticut in 1969, where she remained committed to racial and social justice. Her career path includes time as a Head Start teacher at Stowe Village in Hartford, and Hartford College for Women’s first development officer. After graduating from Yale Divinity School, Louden became one of the first female priests in the Episcopal Church in the nation, serving at St. James Episcopal Church in West Hartford. 

Since 1990, Dr. Louden has practiced as a psychotherapist, helping her patients with individual therapy, couples therapy, and spiritual direction. She is the co-founder of Gestalt Pastoral Care, a training program that integrates spirituality, psychotherapy, and religion. 

In 2018, Dr. Louden was recognized by the Hartford Courant as a “60 over 60 Top Ten.” The newspaper honoring those to admire, who are over the age of 60, and who inspire others. She is also a wife, mom, and grandmother. We welcome her to the RHS Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame.