By Bruce Hershfield, MD
[Spring 2006; Vol. 32, No. 3; Pg 4]
Dr.
Richard H. Pembroke, Jr., MD of Baltimore, a 95-yr-old retired psychiatrist and
psychoanalyst, died on January 4, 2006. Originally from West Virginia, he
was raised in southern Maryland, attended medical school at the University of
Maryland, and trained in pathology. He served in the Navy during World War
II and he became interested in Psychiatry around that time. He later
trained as an analyst and worked at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Towson. He became
Chief of Psychiatry there before he retired in 1986.
Several
psychiatrists who knew Dr. Pembroke spoke of him at a recent meeting. Dr.
Thomas Allen referred to him as a “Renaissance man” who was very dedicated
to his patients. Both he and Dr. Maurice Van Besien remembered Dr.
Pembroke’s advice to deal with a psychiatric condition as carefully as a good
surgeon treats a patient, ensuring that no “tissue” gets damaged.
Jonas Rappeport, MD remembered how much he loved his machine shop and his
telescope and how much he enjoyed traveling. “He was a gracious host,
very knowledgeable, and a good leader at St. Joseph’s.” Dr. Gerald
Klee described him as “very down-to-earth”. Desmond McNelis, MD
remembered his great sense of humor and how well-informed he was. “If
you talked on any subject, Dick knew something about it.”
Clearly,
Dr. Pembroke’s wisdom and personality are fondly remembered by his many
friends and colleagues.