Emil L. Froelicher—1906-1958

Dr. Emil Froelicher died of a coronary thrombosis on the 10th of December, 1958, at the age of fifty-two. He was born in Winterthur, Switzerland, started his education in his native town, and received his medical degree at the University of Basel. he soon started to specialize in psychiatry and psychoanalysis, and in 1939 came to the United States. He went to Detroit where from 1939 to 1947 he was Resident Psychiatrist and then Clinical Director of the Haven Sanitarium.

Dr. Froelicher was the first to introduce in the hospital a psychoanalytically oriented psychotherapy program and also to teach the residents the principles of psychoanalytic psychiatry. In addition to his clinical work, he was an active member of the Detroit Psychoanalytic Society, always ready to serve when needed.

His interest in psychoanalytic training and the wish to be part of a broader psychoanalytic atmosphere led him to New York. He became a member of the New York Psychoanalytic Society in 1950. Those who knew his work well were impressed by an unusual combination of sensitive intuitiveness and great caution. In his approach, the therapeutic gentleness stood above all. In the scientific activities of the Society he was more observer than participant, but an observer with keen, intense, and spirited interest.

Dr. Froelicher was a profoundly modest human being, active without being assertive, pensive rather than verbal, patient toward his fellow men. His social charm and direct warmth endeared him to many of his friends. His humility and lack of undue pride was well proven when already as a specialist he returned to medical school for a year to acquire a license to practice medicine in Michigan. He was much admired for the resiliency and humane elegance with which he accomplished this task.

One cannot escape the feeling that he was on the threshold of a broader evolvement when he was stricken. But one can have no quarrel with death. We grieve for him with affection.