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FUNERAL HOME

Levine Chapels

470 Harvard Street

Brookline, Massachusetts

JOSEPH BIEDERMAN Obituary

Name: Funeral service for JOSEPH BIEDERMAN
Start: 2023-01-09T15:30:00.000Z
Location: Temple Emanuel

BIEDERMAN, Joseph Psychiatrist, Researcher, Mensch Joseph Biederman, MD, passed away on January 5, 2023 at the age of 75, surrounded by his family. He was a beloved husband, father and grandfather who died from complications of mantle cell lymphoma. The son of Ana and Max Biederman, Holocaust survivors who were saved by Oskar Schindler, he was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia. The family immigrated to Argentina where he grew up together with his twin brother Leon. At 23, he graduated from the University of Buenos Aires School of Medicine and the following year began his psychiatry residency at Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem. He moved to the US in 1978 and began a fellowship in child psychiatry at Children's Hospital, Boston, and in 1980 joined the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Department of Psychiatry. He is regarded as the father of pediatric psychopharmacology and demonstrated tireless dedication to the examination of the causes, diagnosis and treatment of ADHD across the lifespan. A pioneer and maverick in the field of child psychiatry, he was also a fierce advocate for his patients and their families. He mentored hundreds of people both professionally and personally and treated thousands of patients throughout his 40+ year career at MGH. In addition to his exceptional competence as a psychopharmacologist, he was highly regarded as an empathic physician who was beloved by his patients and their families. His research work propelled the field of ADHD and Child Psychiatry, and by 2007 he was the most cited psychiatrist and child psychiatrist in all of medicine, as well as one of the most productive researchers at Harvard Medical School. He served as the Chief of the Clinical and Research Programs in Pediatric Psychopharmacology and Adult ADHD; Director of the Alan and Lorraine Bressler Clinical and Research Program for Autism Spectrum Disorders at MGH; and Professor of Psychiatry at the Harvard Medical School until his death. Although work was very important to him, nothing meant more to him than his family. His wife of 42 years, Helen Charlupski, was the love of his life, and he cherished watching his three children grow up and thrive and welcoming his son and daughter-in-law into the family. Most recently he delighted in becoming Papa Yossi to his four grandchildren. May we all strive to live a life as full of dedication, determination, and love as Yossi. And may his memory be a blessing. He is survived by his wife, Helen; children Itai Biederman, Daniela (Seth) Waldenberg, Ari Biederman (Tracy Webber); grandchildren Noah, Jacob and Kayla Biederman and Lila Waldenberg; and his brother Leon (Aviva) Biederman. Funeral services Monday, January 9, at 10:30am, Temple Emanuel, 385 Ward Street, Newton, MA. Shiva at the family home on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, 5-8PM. In lieu of flowers, donations in his honor may be made to: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, or Jewish Heritage Museum, NYC, or The Leukemia And Lymphoma Society. Levine Chapels, Brookline 617-277-8300 www.levinechapel.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Boston Globe from Jan. 7 to Jan. 8, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for JOSEPH BIEDERMAN

31 Entries

John Heiligenstein

January 22, 2024

I miss my good friend and colleague...not just a pioneer but the international father of modern child psychopharmacology. I think of Joe so often...not only did I work with Joe and his team, I referred families with children who had complex mental health issues to him. They (and I) were never disappointed. Rest In Peace, my friend.

Leon Weintraub

January 3, 2024

We keep him in our memory.

Cesar Soutullo

January 2, 2024

Dear Helen.
It was a great surprise to see you in NY at AACAP's special symposium on the legacy of Joe, and also get the chance to meet the rest of his family. As the 1 yr aniversary approaches, I just want to tell you I think of him and the good times we had together and all the things I learnt from him on daily basis. I send a big hug to you on these difficult days.
Cesar Soutullo

Laura C Green

January 1, 2024

Dear Helen,
We're thinking of you, and sending our love your way.
Laura Green & David Golan

Joel Knoblauch

April 3, 2023

Dear Family of Dr Biederman,
I am sad to read of the passing of Joseph Biederman,
I send my heartfelt condolences,
Love to all,
Joel Knoblauch

Reading, PA

Gary

March 1, 2023

He was very kind and compassionate!

Isadora

February 7, 2023

Dr. Biederman was an amazingly kind and caring man and I was so blessed to have him as my doctor for nearly a decade.
Many times he saw potential in me that I may not have seen in myself. He didn't just care about my heath but he always wanted to know how I was REALLY doing. How my life was going, how my family was. He always made time for me to share things with him and celebrate my achievements and successes. He pushed me to keep going and I always seemed to leave our appointments with positivity and determination. I am forever grateful to him on so many levels. My condolences to his family and friends on this tremendous loss.

Leon Weintraub, MD, PhD

January 26, 2023

Dear Helen, we share your sorrow.
Leon Weintraub and Family in Stockholm.

David Golan and Laura Green

January 26, 2023

Yossi was a brave genius, and a one of a kind. We are so saddened to learn of his passing. We loved him, and we always will.

Finnias Abrams- Morrissey

Planted Trees

Tobias Banaschewski

January 23, 2023

Joe, you were a great mentor, reliable true friend, and a wonderful person of strong humanity! Gone far too early, we will miss you. RIP, my dear friend! Tobias

Marty Keller

January 15, 2023

I met Joe when he first came to the MGH as a trainee in clinical work and research in child and adolescent psychiatry. I recall that in this "academic" context that Joe often spoke lovingly of his young child, parents, other family members and close friends. Joe was a "newcomer" to the field of research medicine, but he displayed tremendous energy, wisdom and passion to learn more about the pathogenesis and ways to improve the treatment of major psychiatric disorders which afflicted youth. I had the honor of supervising and mentoring Joe on the early research grant applications he wrote to the NIMH while he was at the MGH over 45 years ago. As time passed Joe transitioned beautifully from a "young" investigator to a leader in the field. As I moved away from the MGH to Brown University, I kept close track of Joe's career. I had the pleasure of meeting Joe and his family on one very warm and significant tribute at Joe's family home. It was a joy to see them interact together as a warm and loving family, which will always be a strong and abiding memory for me of Joe, along with his major contributions to new knowledge in the field of child and adolescent psychiatry. I am confident that the warm and loving memories will be a source of love and eternal piece to his family and many close friends.

Timothy Rivinus

January 14, 2023

Timothy Rivinus
Colleague 01/12/2023
Dear Helen and Family, I know Joe´s Memory will be a blessing to you, to the many he touched and far beyond - to whose lives changed for his courage, determination, dedication and humanity. It will be to me! I feel so lucky to have been a friend, support and mentor when Joe first came to make America his personal and professional home and to become a master doctor, researcher and teacher. (Joe you put Child and Adolescent Psychiatry on a redrawn map of Modern Medicine. You were a gift entire. Thank you Helen and family for being with, of and for him.) The best of my love in Memoriam and Praise. Tim Rivinus

Haim Belmaker

January 14, 2023

My deepest condolences to Helen who studied at Ulpan Etzion in Jerusalem in 1974 with my wife Ilana and to Itai who played with my children at the Biblical Zoo in Jerusalem in 1977, and to the whole Biederman family and scholarly community. Yossi was the sandak at the Brit of my son Reuven in 1977 and he was my collaborator on my first clinical trial of lithium in Jerusalem in 1977. Our friendship lasted 45 years. Yossi's amazing energies , warmth and loving radiance will be missed by all of us who loved him so much.

Katherine Feliciano

January 11, 2023

Dr. Biederman pretty much saved my life as a recent grad and new mother trying to understand why everything was a bit more challenging in life. I can't express how deeply saddened I am that he died. The last meeting we had was over zoom and had I known that was the last time that I would ever see him again, I would have thanked him harder and let him know that he changed my life. RIP Dr. Biederman. Take care and I'll miss you.

Cesar A Soutullo

January 11, 2023

Suzanne Bergoffen

January 10, 2023

I loved Dr. Biederman. As a parent of one of his pediatric patients, he was always there for me 7 days a week. He was such a kind, empathetic man. We were so lucky to be part of his practice!
My condolences to his family,
Suzanne Bergoffen

Andrew Fischer and Linda Jason

Planted Trees

Haim Belmaker

January 10, 2023

Haim Belmaker

January 10, 2023

Andrea Spencer

January 9, 2023

He left us too soon. My condolences to his entire beautiful family who he talked about so much, and to my friends at MGH pedi psychopharm. I first met Dr. Biederman at my residency interview, not knowing that he would become my psychopharm supervisor years later in fellowship, and then my research mentor. And what a mentor he was - really, more than a mentor, a research parent. In his words, I "caught the research bug" from Dr. Biederman, and I learned so much from him during my years working closely at his side as a young attending and junior researcher. I have him to thank for launching my research career, and also for teaching me how to help others do the same. Every week I have new amazement for everything he accomplished as well as how much care and support he gave to his mentees. When I left MGH to spread my research and clinical wings, I still to this day do not know if he realized how closely I carried his teachings with me, and how often I think of him and hear his words in my head, and how often I tell people "this is what Dr. Biederman would say." He was brilliant, passionate, caring, complicated, and unparalleled. Already ever present in my life and in our field's work, he will continue to be.

Ricardo M. Vela, MD

January 9, 2023

I am greatly saddened by the passing away of my colleague and friend Joe Biederman, a truly exceptional child psychiatrist and human being. My condolences to all his family.

Donna A Miller, MSW

January 9, 2023

What a loss. He was a wise and compassionate teacher and clinician. Everyone loved and respected him.

The Ceranoglu Family

Planted Trees

Manisha Madhoo

January 8, 2023

Dr B has left an amazing impression on me in my 2 decades of knowing him. He was one of the best physician I have observed with a child with challenging mental health condition. I was scared when I first met him but after seeing him with this child, I have learnt so much from a caring and amazing physician at MGH. His legacy will continue in our everyday work!

Suzanne Bender

January 8, 2023

Without a doubt, I am a better child psychiatrist because of the teachings, guidance and supervision of Joe Biederman. With an office next door to him on Thursdays, I would often ask for psychopharm supervision if I was stuck, and he was always willing to help me and share his incredible expertise. I was so very fond of him. MGH Child Psychiatry will not be the same without him but we will always remember and follow the example he set for excellent clinical care.

Ned Hallowell, M.D.

January 8, 2023

Our field has lost a giant. Our world has lost a mensch.

Although I never worked with Joe directly, I was his de facto student ever since 1981 when I first learned about an odd condition that was then called attention deficit disorder, or ADD. My teachers, via their papers, books, lectures, courses, and the grapevine of clinical lore were pioneers like Paul Wender, Hans Hussey, Leopold Bellak, Russell Barkley, Peter Jensen, and of course the inimitable Joe Biederman.
I say "inimitable" because Joe was unique. Like all pioneers, he cared more about tilling new ground and fighting to discover and defend truth than pleasing people or steering clear of controversy. In fact, I got the distinct feeling that he warmed to controversy the way a prizefighter warms to taking on an opponent who thinks he can knock him out.
No one ever knocked out Joe. Many tried, which is what happens to people who innovate, carve out new ground, and ruffle feathers along the way. Joe couldn't have cared less about ruffled feathers. While I never did meet him, I imagine his response to any attack would have been "Bring it on!"
I'm deeply grateful to Dr. Biederman for his disruptive curiosity and the cornucopia of research it begat; for his generosity in opening the door to younger colleagues; for his courage in standing up for what he believed in; and for his stellar example of a life well lived.
As a distant student of Joe's who never met the man, I feel as though I knew him anyway. I mark his passing with sadness but also with immense personal gratitude. I could not have written the books I've written about ADHD without the work of Joe Biederman.
Thank you, Dr. B.

Erica Greenberg

Planted Trees

Esther Ross, Advocate

January 8, 2023

The good doctor was an absolute genius and got a diagnosis on my referral..saved her life years back...very thorough and precise...he will be missed...sympathy to all...so sorry, Esther Ross, Advocate Mass & NH

Cesar A Soutullo

January 7, 2023

My deepest condolences to Helen, the rest of the family and to MGH Pediatric Psychopharm team, and the whole of American and worldwide child and adolescence psychiatry. Dr Biederman was an example, a teacher, a mentor, a role model to thousands of Child psychiatrist around the world. We were lucky to host him twice at the University of Navarra in Spain, and I was lucky to attend the MGH ADHD and pediatric Psychopharm course several years. He guided my career even with brief encounters, helped my in returning to the US and I was lucky to present in international symposiums across Europe.
Rest in peace my dear Joe, you helped so many.

Cesar A Soutullo MD
Vice chair and Chief of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
The University of Texas - Houston

virginia q anthony

January 7, 2023

For decades I worked with Joe, in my capacity as ED of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. He was a first class researcher and sage, able to find what was important. And he was fun to work with, his wit and understatement constantly amusing. Virginia Q. Anthony

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