DR. ALAN HARWOOD

1935 - 2024

HARWOOD, Dr. Alan On Friday, July 5, Dr. Alan Harwood died at the age of 89, at the Hospice of the Fisher Home, in Amherst, Massachusetts, surrounded by his children, Jessica and Seth Harwood, and his wife, Margot Welch. Alan Harwood was born on March 20, 1935 in Tarrytown, New York to Samuel and Cecelia Harwood. He loved music and played piano for most of his life. Alan attended college at Harvard University and got a Master's Degree at the University of Michigan and a Ph.D. in Anthropology at Columbia University. Dr. Harwood did his field work as a Medical Anthropologist studying the Safwa tribe in Tanzania from 1962 to 1964. His research projects include the health beliefs and practices of people living in the South Bronx, NYC, and ideas of health and well-being among five ethnic groups in Boston, MA. His work impacted how doctors treat patients with diverse cultural backgrounds. His publications include, "Witchcraft, Sorcery, and Social Categories Among the Safwa and Rx: Spiritist As Needed: A Study of a Puerto Rican Community Mental Health Resource." He also edited the book, "Ethnicity and Medical Care" and served as founding editor of the Medical Anthropology Quarterly. Dr. Harwood was a professor at the University of Massachusetts in Boston from 1972 to 2002, where he also served as Chair of the Anthropology Department, Director of Core Curriculum Programs, and Dean in the College of Arts and Sciences. Alan was a wonderful husband to his wife, Margot Welch; an amazingly caring father to his two children, Jessica and Seth, and later to his stepsons, Samuel and Joshua Welch; and his daughters-in-law, Kelly Vogel and Maggie Shar. In later years, he was a proud and doting grandfather to his two granddaughters, Willa Harwood and Gili Sharwood. Many friends and relatives recounted the kindness, trustworthiness, and support he provided, remembering him as always being in their corner and as a wonderful listener, especially in times of uncertainty. So many of his loved ones saw him as a role model, a mentor, and as a wise sage who offered groundedness and wisdom. In his last years, he lived in The Inn at Lathrop in Easthampton, MA, where he served as director of music programming and often sang and played the piano, and at Linda Manor in Leeds, MA, where he sang with other residents almost daily. A Graveside funeral will be held at Mt Auburn Cemetery on Monday, July 8, at 10:00am. Please meet at the front entrance no later than 9:30 am. Levine Chapels, Brookline 617-277-8300 www.levinechapels.com