David E. Schecter, M.D. 1926-1980

DAVID E. SCHECTER WAS BORN IN Montreal, Canada, December 1, 1926 and lived there until 1951. He received his B.S. at McGill University in 1946 and his M.D. in 1950. He was appointed to the faculty of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in 1957, and since 1967 had held the rank of Associate Clinical Professor. He was the author of 16 papers and discussions, and from 1964 to 1971 had collaborated on a research project on early ego development in natural family settings.

David's early major interests were genetics and embryology. During his undergraduate years he also had a serious passion for a career in music. He was an accomplished cellist, had played in several symphony orchestras, and more avidly in string quartets.

The move from Montreal to New York, in 1951, was most challenging. To David, who had been imbued with the advantages of a multicultural background, it meant meeting extraordinary people like Erich Fromm, as well as talented artists and musicians. For in New York everything seemed available. But the year he did come to New York City, Fromm, to his dismay, moved to Mexico. Fortunately Fromm returned for four months each year, and David had supervision with him for about six years, as well as some personal analysis.

In 1957, Fromm arranged a month-long seminar on Zen and psychoanalysis at his home in Cuernavaca. David then had the privilege of getting to know Suzuki. In addition to the Zen program, seven psychoanalysts, including Fromm, shared a month of three times a week, two-hour sessions of case seminars. The Fromms also introduced David to the Chinese exercise T'ai Chi, which required grace, balance and a great deal of concentration.

David's major research interest was early ego development. In 1957, he had been invited to teach a course in human development with Sybylle Escalona, and Eleanor Galenson, a child psychoanalyst and faculty member of the New York Psychoanalytic Institute. Their