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It is a poignant experience for me to write an obituary for my former analyst.
I first met Hans in 1954 when, with his wife Friedl (Gottfriede), he was brought to Montreal by Clifford Scott to initiate psychoanalytic training in Canada at the Allan Memorial Institute, then directed by Ewen Cameron. Hans and Friedl had both been given the status of training analysts by the British Society, of which Scott was then president.
Hans had graduated in medicine from the University of Vienna, served as a medical officer during the war, and trained in internal medicine and in psychoanalysis, with the analysis undertaken by August Aichorn.
Hans became my second analyst. At one point, I asked him how I could tell him everything, since he comprised one-third of the training committee. He replied promptly by asking what good it would do me to become an analyst if the price to pay was to retain my neurosis. He was skilful and empathic, and he was a gentleman. His theoretical orientation had been greatly influenced by Bowlby, but he respected mine, which was different.
He remained at the Allan when Scott resigned in 1959, and initiated closed-circuit television interviews of patients, in which a number of us participated for the benefit of residents.
He suffered a heart attack in 1970, and when we went to visit him, Robert Cleghorn, who by then had succeeded Cameron as director of the Allan Memorial Institute, marvelled at his composure.
Hans was interested in clinical work and in teaching. To my knowledge, he had two papers published: “Psychoanalysis and Consciousness” was published in the International Journal of Psychoanalysis in 1960, and the other, “The Dilemma with Aggression,” was published in the Canadian Psychiatric Association Journal in 1969.
He was not interested in IPA congresses and politics, giving absolute priority to time spent with Friedl and their three children: Eva, Susanne, and Nora.
When Gilbert Heseltine, who had been the associate clinical director of the Allan, we