Los Angeles analysts celebrated the contributions of Leo Rangell in an evening of recognition and accolades for six decades of writing and leadership locally, in the American, and in the International Psychoanalytic Associations. Leo is the first “homegrown” analyst to have been named honorary president of the IPA after Ernest Jones, Heinz Hartman, and Anna Freud.
The party was held May 5 at the Skirball Cultural Museum; the visiting Freud exhibit was opened specially for party guests to explore before dinner. Another “exhibit” was the Leo Rangell poster tour. A pictorial history of Leo's personal photos with major contributors in psychoanalysis took us through decades of psychoanalytic history. His memorabilia feature one-of-a-kind pictures of Anna Freud, Robert Waelder, Jeanne Lample de Groot, Elizabeth Zetzel, Phyllis Greenacre, Lowenstein, Sterba, Guttman, Garma, and Rascovsky, and a poster dedicated to Anita Rangell's visit and interview with the Wolf Man.
Presenters touched on personal reminiscences; Leo's writings on friendship, poise, anxiety, and his book The Mind of Watergate; and the unitary theory of psychoanalysis. Speakers included analysts from all Los Angeles institutes and some from San Francisco, among them Jerry Aronson, Norm Atkins, Justin Call, Mike Gales, Chris Hrodesky, Mel Lansky, Maria Lymberis, Marv Osmond, Larry Pomer, Warren Procci, Heiman van Dam, and Robert Wallerstein. Present in spirit through telegrams, faxes, and a poster were Jacob Arlow, Harold Blum, Charles Brenner, Dick Fox, Jim Grotstein, Dale Boesky, Serge Lebovici, Otto Kernberg, Arnold Richards, and Robert Tyson.
“I feel like Roberto Benini,” declared Leo, “so happy I feel like jumping over tables.” Instead he did an imitation of Freud in perfect Viennese accent, thanking family, friends, and colleagues for friendship and support.
Photo by Allan Rabinowitz