James Dobson, Conservative Leader and Founder of Focus on the Family, Dies at 89

Liputan6.com, Jakarta James Dobson, a prominent Christian psychologist and founder of the influential conservative organization Focus on the Family, died on Thursday, August 21, 2025.

He died at his home in Colorado Springs, Colorado, at the age of 89.

The sad news was confirmed by the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute, the nonprofit organization he founded to continue his radio broadcasts.

Although a specific cause of death was not disclosed by family spokesperson Jessica Kramer, Dobson left a profound legacy of thought.

For decades, James Dobson was a powerful voice on social and political issues, advising four U.S. presidents and writing numerous bestselling books.

Today we remember a hero of the faith. Our Founder, Dr. James C. Dobson, passed away this morning. Although we're sorrowful over this loss, we are thankful for his legacy of family ministry that will live on for future generations, and rejoice that he is now in the presence of… pic.twitter.com/H8sSsXssos

— Focus on the Family (@FocusFamily) August 21, 2025

James Clayton Dobson Jr. was born on April 21, 1936, in Shreveport, Louisiana.

His academic career began at Pasadena College, where he earned a bachelor's degree in 1958.

Dobson then continued his education and earned a doctorate in psychology from the University of Southern California in 1967.

He served as an associate clinical professor of pediatrics at the University of Southern California School of Medicine for 14 years.

He also served on the staff of Children's Hospital of Los Angeles for 17 years.

In 1977, James Dobson founded Focus on the Family (FotF), an evangelical Christian nonprofit organization that would become one of the most influential entities in the conservative movement.

His founding path continued with the Family Research Council in 1981 and the Family Policy Alliance in 2004. In 2010, he founded the Dr. Dobson Foundation.

James Dobson Family Institute, which produces his radio program, "Dr. James Dobson's Family Talk."

Dobson is known as a prolific author, with one of his most famous works being "Dare to Discipline," published in 1970.

James Dobson's views on family are not only rooted in religious teachings but also form the foundation of his strong advocacy in the public sphere.

He openly advocates for the instruction of children in heterosexuality and traditional gender roles.

Dobson has also been a leading force in the anti-abortion movement since the 1980s, consistently voicing his opposition to the practice.

Furthermore, he and his organization openly oppose LGBTQ+ rights, including those related to marriage, adoption, and foster care.

After stepping down from the leadership of Focus on the Family, Dobson remains active in the political arena.

His latest project, the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute (JDFI), is part of a coalition of conservative groups that formed the advisory board for Project 2025.

In his personal life, James Dobson married Shirley Deere on August 26, 1960.

They had two children, Danae and Ryan, a daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren.

Despite his central role at Focus on the Family, Dobson began to step away from the organization's leadership in the early 2000s.

He stepped down as president and CEO in 2003 and then as chairman of the board in February 2009.

In 2010, he launched the radio show "Family Talk with Dr. James Dobson" after leaving the Focus on the Family radio program.

The program is syndicated nationally and broadcast on 1,500 radio stations, reaching over half a million listeners each week.

He stepped down as chairman of the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute in 2022, appointing Joe Waresak as its new president.

Following news of his death, Family Research Council president Tony Perkins said that Dobson's "legacy will be lasting".

"Dobson will be missed," he added. "But like other influential Christian leaders of his era, he has raised many more in his wake."