The Minnesota Psychological Association recognizes the many years of service to the people of Minnesota with his passing on March 13, 2016. He was an exceptional person and served us with dignity and caring. He was in the U.S. Congress 28 years, 1979-2006, after extensive service in the Minnesota legislature. Congressman Sabo, and his staff, were supportive to the position and visits by Minnesota psychologists sharing his wisdom and time. At one visit during the APA State Leadership Conference he spent more than an hour with two of us, Steve Peltier, Ph.D., L.P. and Sy Gross, Ph.D., L.P., which is  much more time than typical, then or now. We benefitted from his informed ideas about fiscal integrity necessary to seek legislation with his service on the key House Appropriations Committee all of his career in Congress, and Chair of Budget Committee, 1993-94.  He appreciated the challenge faced by psychologists.  His successor in the U.S. Fifth District, Rep. Keith Ellison, has continued being supportive to professional psychology. The Minnesota Psychological Association honors and respects Congressman Martin Olav Sabo.

Written by Sy Gross, Ph.D., L.P., who is the Current Federal Advocacy Coordinator for MPA for the past 12 years, a previous MPA President, and on the Council of Representatives for APA.  His doctoral degree was received from the University of Minnesota Clinical Psychology program and he currently does clinical work at Hennepin County Mental Health Center. His specialization is with persons who are homeless.