Dr. Susan Spieler

just a month after having celebrated her 75th birthday. After a long-fought battle with multiple types of cancer, she passed peacefully in her own home surrounded by friends and family.

Dr. Spieler received her Bachelor’s degree from Brooklyn College, her Master’s degree in

Rehabilitation Counseling from New York University, and her Doctorate in Psychoanalysis from

Rutgers University. She was passionate about mental health and ran her own private practice as

a clinical psychologist on the Upper West Side for over 40 years. She was also on faculty at

New York University and Rutgers University, and was the director of continuing education at the

Training Institute for Mental Health for many years.

Susan was an advocate for justice. In her youth, she fought for women’s rights, marching in

support of Roe v. Wade. In her later years, she focused on climate action, including organizing

marching contingents at a number of national rallies, running a local CSA, and coordinating the

NYC Grassroots Alliance.

Her most recent advocacy focused on the intersection between psychology, climate change,

and race. This work led her to become a member of the Medical Reserve Corps of New York as

part of the Resilience & Emotional Support Team, where she was a first responder during

Hurricane Sandy. She spoke about those experiences at multiple national and international

psychoanalytic conferences.

She is survived by her child, Rilka, who will remember her as a loving parent, fierce justice

advocate, and dedicated clinician.

Contributions can be made in honor of Susan to WE ACT for Environmental Justice and Kol

Tzedek Synagogue.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.riversidememorialchapel.com for the Spieler family.