Julius Nelson: 1896-1969

Julius Nelson passed away on the last day of 1969. It was in 1938 that I first met Jules when he was a staff psychiatrist at the Brooklyn State Hospital and I was a resident in neuropsychiatry at Kings County Hospital. Six years later, I met him again at an Association meeting. We quickly resumed our relationship which matured into a deep and enduring friendship.

Jules came to this country an almost penniless youth. He studied at night and accumulated enough credits to enable him to matriculate at McGill University in Montreal. He completed his medical course at McGill in the late twenties, and after an internship at what is now known as Brooklyn Hospital, entered Brooklyn State Hospital. Resognizing an experience in psychoanalysis as a requirement for his continuing maturity, he began his analysis with Abraham Kardiner, and then with Karen Horney with whom he worked until shortly before her death.

Jules married early in his career and raised two splendid boys, both of whom became physicians. Jules had some brushes with coronary disease, but his drive ahd energy, as well as his optimistic view of things, enabled him to rebound and resume his work. He remained active until the Fall of 1969 and he died shortly after.

It is difficult to describe the intricacy and complexity of Jules’ personality. At once reserved and open, tough-minded and sensitive, idealistic and down to earth, he seemed to be a study in contrasts and contradictions until one saw that these contrasts were blended in such a fashion as to complement each other. In one realm, however, there was no polarization, and that was the area of intellectual and personal honesty. There was no trace of guile, duplicity or dissembling in his make-up. He despised pretense and hypocrisy, whether from ally or opponent.

Those of us who knew Jules intimately reacted to his death with the feeling of losing a supporting anchor. The memory of his gentleness and his strength will remain with us through the coming years.