Henry N. Ricciuti, 93, professor emeritus of human development and an expert on early childhood development who served on the faculty for 53 years, died March 14 at his home in Ithaca.

Born Dec. 25, 1917, in Waterbury, Conn., Ricciuti earned his B.S., M.A. and Ph.D. (1949), all in psychology from Fordham University, and served in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1946. Prior to joining the Cornell faculty in 1958, he served as an assistant professor at the University of Connecticut, research associate at the Educational Testing Service, and assistant professor at the University of Colorado Medical School. At Cornell, he specialized in early childhood development, especially the factors associated with cognitive and emotional development of infants and young children.

He published numerous articles and research studies, serving as the first Steering Committee chair of the National Institutes of Health Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (1989-91), served twice as department chair (1970-73, 1982-86), mentored many graduate students and colleagues, and was asked to participate in or lead numerous universitywide committees.

In 2001, he received the Society for Research in Child Development Award for Distinguished Contributions to Public Policy for Children.

Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Florence Brennan Ricciuti; four adult children and their families.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Thursday, March 17, at 11 a.m. at St. Catherine of Siena Roman Catholic Church in Ithaca. Friends may call Wednesday, March 16, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Bangs Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Ricciuti's memory can be made to Cornell for the Ricciuti Lecture Series, Department of Human Development, Cornell University, Attn: Peter Farley, G77 MVR Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853; or Child Development Council, 609 W. Clinton St., Ithaca, NY 14850.