Philip Solomon

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Dr. Philip Solomon, formerly of Boston, magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Harvard College's class of 1927 (graduated early in 1926) and summa cum laude graduate of Harvard Medical School 1930, passed away May 31, 2002 at age 95 in La Jolla, California where he has resided since 1969.

Dr. Solomon, the author of multiple psychiatric papers and books and one of the original researchers in Sensory Deprivation, served as a Commander in the U.S. Navy attached to the sixth Marine division during World War II, was Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and Physician in Chief of Psychiatry at Boston City Hospital from 1952 until 1969, founded the College of Mental Health Center in Boston in 1968 and, in 1969, moved to La Jolla, California where he served as Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the UCSD Medical School.

Dr. Solomon is preceded in death by his first wife, Sarah "Pebbles" Solomon of Boston, his second wife U.S. Senator Maureen Neuberger, and survived third ex-wife, Dr. Susan Thurman Kleeman of Boston, son Andrew L. Solomon and Andrew's wife, Dana Donsky Solomon MEd 1963 of Houston, two daughters, Linda Solomon of Houston and Susan Thurman Solomon of Boston, step son, Jeffrey Thurman Kleeman of Los Angeles, grandsons, Rex Solomon of Houston and Keith Solomon, and Keith's wife, Dr. Ilene Simon Solomon of Los Angeles, and great-granddaughter, Kayla Solomon of Los Angeles.

Possible middle name: Lynn

In high school was editor of the school scholastic journal, The Reflector, and was Valedictorian. His address was on Scrutiny if the Mind.

1942 Lived at 5 Bush St, Newport, RI

Teaching: Harvard Medical School - neurology and Tufts Medical School. Joined USNR 7-2-1941 as lieutenant, MC-V(S) [retired as full commander]

1937 Lived at: 19 Moses Brown St, Providence RI office: Emma Pendleton Bradley Home, East Providence RI

1967 104 Lake Ave, Newton Ctr 02159

BIOGRAPHICAL DATA PHILIP SOLOMON, M.D.

Dr. Solomon is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Medical School. His internship and residency training was in medicine, neurology, and psychiatry, and he obtained additional postgraduate training in neuropathology, electroencephalography, child psychiatry, and psychoanalysis. He served five years in the Navy during World War II, three of which were spent with the Marines. He was discharged with the rank of Commander.

Dr. Solomon founded and organized the Psychiatry Service at Boston City Hospital and was its Physician-in-Chief. He has been active in teaching for many years, and was clinical professor at Harvard Medical School. He was also Director of the Alcohol Clinic and of the Psychiatric Research Laboratory of the Boston City Hospital. His fields of inquiry have included electroencephalography , sensory deprivation, alcoholism, suicide, and other clinical subjects, and his publications number over 200, including several books.

Dr. Solomon is certified in both neurology and psychiatry by the American Board of Neurology and Psychiatry, and is a member of the American Psychoanalytic Association. He is past president of the Northern New England District Branch of the American Psychiatric Association, of the Boston Society of Psychiatry, and Neurology and Psychiatric Section of the Massachusetts Medical Society. For seven years he was active in postgraduate teaching of psychiatry to non psychiatrist physicians as Chairman of the American Psychiatric Association Committee on Psychiatry and Medical Practice. In 1960 he organized and served as President of the College Mental Health Center of Boston, Inc., a non-profit organization for the many instructions of higher learning in the Boston area, and the first multi college mental health center anywhere.

In 1969 Dr. Solomon entered the private practice of psychiatry in La Jolla, California and became Clinical Professor of Psychiatry UCSD Medical School. He has been active in San Diego community psychiatry, Chairman of the Drug Abuse Committee for the Comprehensive Health Planning Association of San Diego and Imperial Counties, Chairman of the Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse of the SD County Board of Supervisors, and Consultant Psychiatrist to the San Diego County; Alcohol Clinic. He is on the staffs of the following hospitals: University, Scripps Memorial, Mercy, and Sharp. He serves frequently as a consultant for the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego; the United States District Court, Southern District of California; and the Defense Investigative Service, Washington, D.C.

In 1988, Dr. Solomon was appointed Consultant to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washingto, D.C.

PHILIP SOLOMON, M.D. 107 Born April 16, Cleveland , Ohio 1926 B.S., magna cum laude in mathematics, Harvard College 1930 M.D., Harvard Medical School 1930-1931 Interne neurology, Boston City Hospital 1931-1932 Interne medicine, 2nd Medical Service, BCH 1932-1933 Resident neurologist, BCH 1933-1934 Austin Teaching Fellow in neuropathology, HMS 1934-1935 Austin Teaching Fellow in neurology, HMS 1935-1936 Interne psychiatry, Boston Psychopathic Hospital

Assistant psychiatrist, Massachusetts General Hospital
Instructor in neurology, HMS

1936-1937 Research on electroencephalography Bradley Home,

 East Providence, Rhode Island

1937-1941 Psychiatrist, Habit Clinic for Child Guidance, Mass. Dept M. Dis

Psychiatrist, New Hampshire Children’s Aid Society

1938-1946 Instructor in Neurology, HMS

Junior visiting neurologist
Assistant neuropsychiatrist, Beth Israel Hospital

1941-1946 Active duty, USNR; neuropsychiatric screening of recruits 1941-1944 Division psychiatrist, Sixth Marine Div. in the Field, Discharge Rank: Commander Service Posts: USNH, Chelsea, MA USNTS, Newport, RI USNTS, Bainbridge, MD Camp Lejune, NC 6 th Medical Batt., 6th MArine Division Decorations: Pre- Pearl Harbor Ribbon American Theatre Ribbon Victory Ribbon (1 Star) Asiatic Pacific (1 Star) Expert Pistol Medal Expert Rifle Medal 1946-1952 Private practice, Beverly Hills, California Cedars of Lebanon Hospital, Neuropsychiatric Staff 1947-1951 Training in psychoanalysis, Los Angeles PsychoanalyticInstitute 1952-1969 Private Practice, Brookline, Mass and Newton, Mass. 1952-1954 Instructor in Psychiatry, HMS 1954-1957 Visiting psychiatrist, BCH 1956-1957 Clinical assoc. in psychiatry, HMS 1956-1961 Asst. clin. Prof. of psychiatry, HMS 1956-1969 Director, Psychiatry Service, BCH 1961-1969 Physician-in-chief for psychiatry, HMS 1961-1967 Associate clin. Prof. of psychiatry, HMS 1966-1969 President, College Mental Health Center of Boston, Inc 1967-1969 Clinical prof. of psychiatry, HMS 1967-1969 Consultant, Office of Emergency Planning, Exec. Office Of the President 1969-Private practice, La Jolla, California at San Diego Medical School

Consultant for the Superior Court of California, County of
San Diego; the United States District Court, Southern 
District of California ; and the Defense Investigative
Service, Department of Defense, Washington, D.C.

1988-Consultant, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington. D.C.

1977 Harvard College 50th Anniversary Report Philip Solomon Wrote:

Seems like many of make our most important decisions when we are least prepared to make the,. In 1924 in our sophomore year I decided for financial reasons to take extra courses and graduate in three years (I wish now I had had that fourth year and the opportunity for a broader education). I abandoned planes to go into law, declined an offer of a graduate fellowship in mathematics, and went to Harvard Medical School ( I wish I had stayed with math and maybe turned to physics). In medicine I chose neurology as a specialty, later psychiatry ( I wish it had been internal medicine or genetics). If you conclude that I have been disappointed in my final field of psychiatry, you are quite right, although I hasten to add that I have enjoyed it within its limitations, and I have enjoyed life, also within its limitations-its and mine.

For a number of years I remained in Boston in academic work at the Medical School. When the Nazi infamy occurred and war looked imminent, I joined the Navy and spent five years as a military psychiatrist, three of them with the Marines and the last with the Sixth Marine Division in the field. The experience in Okinawa was really something. The division did so well it was picked to spearhead the unwelcome landings in Japan an honor we were spared by the atomic actives of Einstein, Oppenheimer, Truman, et al.,and the horrors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Returned a live from the Spartan existence with the Marines, I collected my family and made for the fleshpots of Los Angeles. The problems of full-time private practice then turned me to psychoanalytic training, which was helpful. However, I could never see psychoanalysis as offering final answers, and it made little change in my basically organic orientation in psychiatry. In fact as time went on, I valued psychoanalysis less and less. Also the plush life became dissatisfying, and at our Class Twenty-fifth Reunion, when i was given the opportunity of returning to Boston and Harvard, I seized in eagerly.

The next seventeen years were full of stimulating activity at the Medical School and at Boston City Hospital - clinical research, teaching, administrative, and organizational work. My family and eventually my health suffered from the immoderate exuberance. Finally with my lovely wife (a colleague), I set out again for southern California, for a quieter world and semi-retirement.

I semi-enjoy this jewel of a place and fully revel in the day-to-day activities with Sue and the children. (Is Sue, forty-two, the youngest Class wife, Suki, six the youngest Class child, and am I, still sixty nine, the youngest classmate?) What I miss is the intellectual ferment of Boston, of my elders I suppose. How ironic that as we get older and presumably gain some maturity there remains less and less time to apply and profit from it.

Thus speaks one who sits more or less calmly on the San Andreas Fault.

HEBREW NAME: FAVEL

RELIGION: As an adolescent, he was rebellious about the Jewish traditions. He was proud of being Jewish...the glorious past, scholarship, but had NO use to being dragged to an Orthodox Synagogue, understanding not a word of what was being said during the entire service and having 4 sets of dishes; not being able to eat the food that the other guys ate which appeared to be perfectly good. It just never made any sense with him. When he tried to discuss the philosophy of religion with his father, Fred showed no patience or tolerance at all! He was mean as hell! He had no use for someone who wanted to discuss along philosophical lines what led someone to believe in God. He would just raise the roof. Phil would walk out. A lot of discourse in his family. Julius was not much a part of it. Just there.

BAR MITZVAH: He was a Bar Mitzvah. It was the idea of the party. The presents. It was not difficult for a few weeks' work for him to do. At first they tried to send him to Hebrew School, but he got into big arguments with the rabbi and not only did he not want to go back, the school did not want him back either! The dogma still did not make sense. He made the speeches. Got presents. Pens. Most impressive gift was a 3-volume set of books on Science...all that was known at the time. It thrilled Phil. He devoured it all.

One of the conditions of his becoming a Bar Mitzvah was that upon his successful completion, he would no longer have to go to synagogue. He had irritated his parents by bringing with him a magazine or book to read during services-disgracing them.

JEWISH CUSTOMS: Later he felt the customs and services are rather beautiful social ways of living. He will tolerate and go through them, but does not believe in them. He feels they do no harm. They are social events.

MEDICAL SCHOOL: When he was in Harvard Medical School, his parents were forced by their financial straits to go on welfare. He was unable to do anything to help them at all. He was borrowing money to get through school. He had one job which gave him board, room, and laundry for 3 years while working for the Boston City Hospital, Contagious Disease Department. Lived there and worked there doing urine analysis (100+ per day). Caught polio while there. Had been working on the polio ward. Awful headache. Stiff neck. Fever. Finally went away. Unusual abortive polio which stops before paralysis begins. Glad he didn't know what he had. Would have been scared to death.

CHILDHOOD: Phil remembers being in his father's grocery store at about 4 years old and making deliveries for customers in a cart. Later on his bicycle. He also worked in the store. He impressed people in that he could not only write down the items being selected, but also add up the numbers as well, take money and dispense correct change...all this before he started school! It was necessary for Phil to do so and it pleased his parents that he helped at the store because when Julius came along, he took a great deal of his mother's time due to his asthma.

COLLEGE: The newspaper wrote: "Alumni Help Bright Boy: Harvard Club Sends Him to University Where He Set Marks. Philip Solomon, 17, of 1105 Parkwood Drive N.E. was graduated from Glenville High School last June with the second highest honors in his class. He also was editor-in-chief of the high school paper, the Reflector, and a hard worker in other activities. Philip had ambitions for a college education but lacked money for his tuition. The Harvard Club of Cleveland awarded him a scholarship for freshman year in recognition of his good grades in high school. At the end of the first semester at Harvard, Phil's lowest grade was "B". Now the Club has voted him a second scholarship for tuition and his sophomore tuition is insured. Attended Harvard University, Class of 1927 on scholarship. Parents very proud. He did escalated work and graduated with the Class of 1926.

In the Thirteenth Census of the United States: 1910 Population it lists within the Cleveland Township in the state of Ohio: 2516 78th Street; Philip is shown as the son of Fred and Jenny; white male, age 4; born in Ohio; birthplace of his father being Hungary-Yiddish; not employed.

Eulogy: Dr. Philip Solomon 6-7-2002 by Rabbi Elaine Zecher Temple Israel, Boston, Ma.

Birth is a Beginning Death a Destination But life is a journey a going--a growing from stage to stage to life everlasting

Philip Solomon has made that journey. His tenacity, brilliance, energy, and graciousness illuminated his path and brought great light to all he encountered. We celebrated that radiance even as we mourn his passing. Our task today is to say good bye to only his body, the vessel for the person he was and what remains dear to you. His essence, his soul, his humanity continues into eternity.

Let us use the words of the Psalms, the poems and the prayers to guide us in this process of mourning and remember Philip Solomon.

Longfellow's words, "Let us be up and doing..." surely describe the kind of life Philip Solomon led. From his humble beginnings in Cleveland, he worked, he persevered, he pressed forward, and all with a cheerful disposition and great sincerely. At 16, he left for Harvard College and upon graduation entered Harvard Medical School. His work in neurology, psychiatry, and science allowed him to enter worlds that intrigued and delighted him. From the beginning, he was a leader and initiated many projects and clinics. Whether he was regarded as doctor, friend or both, Philip Solomon has a large following who spanned the country and sought his advice. He was well liked, gracious, charming, impeccably proper, and exuded a warmth that drew you in.

Philip lived his life in full activity. His energetic initiative and creativity allowed his many talents to blossom. He loved words. He cherished the dictionary. He relished in the literary world whether through reading or his own writing. He loved music as well and taught himself how to play whatever it was that he wanted to learn. Philip was success oriented and sought to achieve his goals.

He set high standards for himself and those around him. His family experienced his strong desire to expect great things. He modeled it in himself and wanted it for them as well. At times, it could seem daunting, yet it came from a deep sense of love and belief in you and your abilities. As you said, Susan, "we modified each other." You shared a devotion to one another. Although memory can never replace the physical presence of your beloved, your love has created an eternal bond. And although his own spirituality may have been rooted deeply in the scientific world, he relished the was Judaism brought his family together.

Whatever he faced in life, he did so with an indomitable spirit and optimism. He would say, "we will get through this, everything will be alright." Even at the end of his life, he didn't experience pain. This was no worry, no regrets.

We cannot determine life or death. We can only savor those moments we have had with those we cherish. The light of Philip's life burns brightly in your memories and most of all in your heart. Let the knowledge and experience oh his radiance give you solace in the dark moment, zichrono livracha, may remembering him be a blessing.