Sydney Geoffrey Biddle, M.D—1889-1954

On Thursday, October 28, 1954, Dr. Sydney Geoffrey Biddle died of a coronary occlusion after a brief illness at the age of sixty-five. It is true that no man is indispensable, but it is equally true that a very few individuals are irreplaceable, and Geoffrey Biddle was one of these, among his friends, among his students and within the Philadelphia Association for Psychoanalysis. He always had the courage to speak up and to act whenever there was any necessity to protect the principles of psychoanalysis or the best interests of those who needed it, particularly of the students, for he was deeply interested in practicing and teaching reliable psychoanalysis. He did not write much, but whatever he wrote was clear and pertinent. His real talents lay in the personal teaching of the older students in psychoanalysis and of the younger practitioners. In fact, it could be said of him more than of most teachers that he had the real interest of the student at heart. He was the pioneer of psychoanalysis in Philadelphia, beginning his practice here in 1931. He was a charter member of the Philadelphia Psychoanalytic Society, and, as its President from 1937 to 1941, and later as Chairman of the Educational Committee, was the guiding spirit for psychoanalysis in Philadelphia. he continued so during his years as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Institute of the Philadelphia Association for Psychoanalysis. To him largely is due the credit for the standards of training maintained by the Association. He was interested also in the wider field of the American Psychoanalytic Association.

With all his courage he was one of the gentlest and kindliest of men, with an empathy and understanding of other people that few men possess. These qualities appeared in response to the needs of both his students and his patients. Time and again he would make suggestions or go out of his way to do things that would make the lot of some