Susanna S. Haigh—1893-1956

The death of Dr. Susanna Haigh Hardy on November 7th brought intense sadness to all who knew her. It occurred three days after an attack of coronary thrombosis from which it was hoped she was recovering, and at a time in her life when she seemed to be on the brink of a renewal of her life and interests. There was a relief, however, in the knowledge that death came suddenly, for she had suffered deeply through the prolonged illness, which in April 1954 caused the death of her husband, Dr. Le Grand H. Hardy, one of our leading ophthalmologists. During the last four years her own health had been less certain and she had restricted her activities in an attempt to conserve her energies. It had been the hope of her friends that this care would carry her through the coming years and still permit her the fulfilment of some of the plans she had cherished for a long time, but had been able to realize only incompletely.

Sue Hardy loved life and appreciated its textures in a richness and a range of interests beyond those of most of us. As an analyst she showed a rare sensitivity and skill, great fidelity to her patients, unswerving integrity in her principles, and both courage and clearheadedness in her work in The New York Psychoanalytic Institute. Soft spoken and rather retiring, she possessed also determination and a capacity for deep conviction.

The wealth of her reading and of her knowledge, especially of history and literature of our own and many other countries, gave a depth and variety, as well as great charm, to discussions with her. Then there were unexpected enthusiasms,—for fine needlework, for dogs, for gardening, for the theater. She possessed a rare gift for travel, and could re-create former times with extraordinary vividness. She was a person of fastidious and varied tastes and infinite patience in pursuit of that which caught her interest. In my last conversation with her she was planning a trip to Peru. It was a great loss that she wrote so little an