Remembering Dr. Frank Benjamin Wilderson Junior

A Celebration of the Life of Dr. Frank Benjamin Wilderson Junior

Sunrise January 30, 1931 — Sunset June 17, 2025

Dr. Frank Benjamin Wilderson Junior peacefully passed away in the early morning hours of Tuesday, June 17, 2025 in his Minneapolis apartment at The Kenwood retirement community. Born January 30, 1931, Dr. Wilderson lived precisely 94 years and five months. 

Dr.Wilderson is predeceased by his loving wife of 63 years Dr. Ida-Lorraine Wilderson (January 26, 2019), his parents Frank and Val, and his brother Dr. Thaddeus Wilderson. He is also survived by his son, Dr. Frank Benjamin Wilderson, III (69); daughter Fawn Elizabeth Wilderson (68); daughter Amy Althea Wilderson Cousin (63); six grandchildren, Reba Wilderson, Maarya Cousin, Shaa’ya Cousin, Ijaaz Cousin, Manaal Cousin, and Esau Cousin; and also great-granddaughters Bontle Wilderson and Violet Ruby Johnson, as well as many relatives and friends.

In 1962, Dr. Wilderson earned his Ph.D. in educational psychology at the University of Michigan–Ann Arbor, where he had been working on a grant to support children with reading difficulties. He and Dr. John L. Johnson — then a doctoral student at Michigan State University — also started Michigan’s first-ever Council for Exceptional Children Division focused on children with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD). 

After his graduation from the University of Michigan, Dr. Wilderson joined the University of Minnesota’s (then) College of Education as an assistant professor of educational psychology. He was the University’s first tenure track black professor. At the time, Minnesota had just passed legislation to help fund licenses for teachers of children with EBD. Not long after he started at the U, Dr. Wilderson was called by the College of Education’s Dean’s Office to run the Urban Education Program. 

Funded by the Office of Teacher Education (OTE), the program trained existing elementary education teachers in disciplinary techniques for students with EBD. During this time, Dr. Wilderson ran the psychoeducational clinic in Pattee Hall. There, he worked with parents, students and teachers on an early Minnesota version of what would become the Individualized Education Plan (IEP), which special education teachers use to support students to this day.

His psychology and education background may have brought him to the U of MN, but the longer Dr. Wilderson stayed, the more he was called to lead. On January 14, 1969, he helped make history. About 70 Black students on the Afro-American Action Committee (AAAC) took over the University of Minnesota’s bursar’s and records office in Morrill Hall. They were protesting hostile treatment of Black students on campus and demanding an African American studies department. This protest is now known as the “Morrill Hall takeover.” 

The AAAC students called Wilderson to help communicate their list of demands to the President’s Office. The students had a list of about 20 different demands. Dr. Wilderson told them the president and vice president were going to take only one or two of them, and advised them to pull out a few of their highest priority demands. If it looks realistic, he told them, that would give them some serious things to consider. Ultimately, the University accepted the students’ demands, the occupation ended, and with Dr. Wilderson leading the charge, the African American Studies Department was established by fall. He once again was called to chair the committee that worked to create this new department. 

Dr. Wilderson was looking forward to finishing up his position in the Dean’s Office when, once again, he was called to service. The Office for Student Affairs contacted Dr. Wilderson and encouraged him to apply for its VP position. He did and was quickly selected for the role. For 14 years, Dr. Wilderson served as vice president for student affairs, where he oversaw and supported programs and students across the University. At one point, his role temporarily expanded to include oversight of the Athletics Department, as well as the University Police. 

After his VP role ended, Dr. Wilderson continued to find ways to serve his community by supporting those with mental health issues and advocating for equity, often together with his wife, Dr. Ida-Lorraine Wilderson, an administrator in the Minneapolis Public Schools. He returned to the Special Education Program in the Department of Educational Psychology for 10 years after his VP role with Student Affairs ended, serving as Program Coordinator during that time. 

Outside Dr. Wilderson’s work at the U, he kept busy as a clinical psychologist. He founded and was chief psychologist for a number of programs. Dr. Wilderson frequently worked with the Minnesota Department of Corrections, as well as with rehabilitation centers, including Turning Point — which has a mission to serve the African American community in Minnesota, beginning with chemical health. In addition, he served as a trustee on the board of the Hazelden-Betty Ford Foundation. There, he served as chair of the Graduate School of Addiction Studies.

After 37 years at the University of Minnesota, Dr. Wilderson retired in 1999, leaving a legacy of service to the University and his community. He is missed by family, friends, many associates and admirers across the country and around the world. 

There will be a visitation Wed., July 10, 5:00-8:00 at Estes Funeral Chapel, 2201 Plymouth Ave. N., Minneapolis, MN 55411 estesfuneralchapel.com.

The funeral will be held Thursday, July 10, 3:00 Visitation, 4:00 Service, 5:00 Repast at The Basilica Of Saint Mary, 1600 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55403. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Saint Vincent De Paul Shoe and Coat Ministry at The Basilica of Saint Mary https://mybasilica.mary.org/netcommunity/page.aspx?pid=204 or Xavier University of Louisiana http://www2.xula.edu/alumni/howtogive.html.