Alan D. Persky passed away at his home Saturday, December 17, 2022 at the age of 88.
Husband to beloved late wife Elinor. Devoted father of Michael (wife Kim) and Jonathan. Proud grandfather of Jana, Eric, Kyla and Kevin. Alan was predeceased by his son Laurence, his parents Benjamin and Ethel and his brother Robert.
Alan was born in Jersey City, NJ in 1934. At the young age of 17, he matriculated at Princeton University, graduating Phi Beta Kappa in 1955. From there, he went on to Harvard Medical School, graduating in 1959. He completed his internship at UCLA in 1960 and residency at Mass Mental Health in 1963.
A psychiatrist trained in Freudian psychoanalysis, Alan was passionate about helping people. Whether in private practice, teaching and mentoring young physicians, or consulting for corporations in the area of organizational behavior, he used his sharp intellect, subtle humor and deep compassion to bring out the best in people.
Alan had varied interests and hobbies including tennis, fishing, reading and the arts. He was just as likely to be found at a card table as the opera, symphony, museum or theater.
Of all his joys, family was the greatest. Whether participating in lively and vibrant conversations with his family around the kitchen table, sitting silently in the "Tin Tub" on the water, walking the beaches of Cape Cod or the trails of New Hampshire, or celebrating the successes of his sons and grandchildren, Alan was always a dignified, approachable, insightful, intuitive, kind patriarch.
We will dearly miss his wit, his wisdom, viewpoints and most certainly his company.
Memorial service at the Levine Chapels, 470 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA on Thursday, December 22nd at 2:00pm. The service will be livestreamed here: www.tinyurl.com/AlanPersky
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, attn Jacob Laubach, 10 Brookline Pl, FL 6, Brookline MA, 02445-7226 or the Laurence S. Persky Memorial Fund at Milton Academy, 170 Centre Street, Milton, MA 02186.
