Jacob A. Arlow, who died on May 21 at the age of 91, had an exceptionally distinguished career. Among his posts and honors, he was president of the APsaA in 1960-61, and chair of its Board on Professional Standards from 1967-69. In addition, he was an honorary member of both the Michigan Psychoanalytic Society and of the Long Island Psychoanalytic Society, Turner Professor of the Columbia Center for Psychoanalytic Training and Research, and treasurer of the International Psychoanalytical Association from 1963-69.
These and other honors were not Arlow's most important achievements in his chosen profession, however. What made him one of the most eminent analysts of his time were his outstanding contributions to psychoanalytic theory, practice, and education. He was the author of more than 100 papers in the psychoanalytic literature and co-author of the influential book, Psychoanalytic Concepts and the Structural Theory, which remained in print for more than 30 years. As editor-in-chief of the Psychoanalytic Quarterly from 1972-79, he helped develop and mold the thinking of a whole generation of analysts. Over the past year, his colleagues, Sheldon Goodman and Arnold Richards, have set up a Web site (psychoanalysis.net/IPPsa/arlow) that contains a number of Arlow's previously unpublished papers.
He lectured widely and participated in countless meetings of local societies of both APsaA and the IPA. His style of presentation, both written and oral, was brilliant and forceful. To paraphrase, he meant what he said and he said what he meant. Ambiguity and obfuscation were totally foreign to his nature.
Arlow was a brilliant clinician. His ability to cut to the heart of a patient's conflicts held many an audience spellbound. To hear him discuss a case presentation was an experience that was treasured by many. Particularly impressive was his ability to detect the unconscious fantasies that epitomize a patient's conflicts and that rule both thought and behavior. Unconscious fantasy and Jacob Arlow are inseparably coupled in the minds of his colleagues and students.
In the field of applied psychoanalysis, Arlow made many significant contributions. Perhaps the most notable is his paper on the unconscious significance of the rite of bar mitzvah in the Jewish religion. Although he was not in any way a religious believer, he was fluent in Hebrew, as indeed he was in several other languages, and he had an extensive knowledge of the history and religious practices of the Jews.
In his personal life, Arlow was a delightful and steadfast companion. He had a charming wit and a gift for light verse. He was a devoted husband, the father of four sons, and an avid tennis player and swimmer.
Arlow was a man of unusual intellect and of great professional achievement in every branch of psychoanalysis. He will be missed and deeply mourned by his host of friends, colleagues, and students.
Charles Brenner