PETER H. WOLFF

1926 - 2021

WOLFF, Peter H. Renowned Research Psychiatrist and Humanitarian Peter Hartwig Wolff (July 8, 1926 - August 17, 2021) was born in Krefeld, Germany. He immigrated to the United States (San Anselmo, CA) in 1937, after spending two years as a political refugee in Eerde, Holland. Peter attended The University of Chicago (B.S., 1947) and The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine (M.D., 1950). Following advanced training, he joined Boston Children's Hospital as a psychiatrist in 1956, where he worked until he retired in 2016 at the age of 90. In 1959, he joined Harvard Medical School, ultimately becoming full professor. In his 60+ year career, Peter became a world-renowned authority on infant behavior and compiled an extraordinary list of accomplishments, including: authoring countless texts on the cognitive development of infants and children and developing theories and advancing the study of developmental dyslexia, among numerous other topics. He was also a founding member of the Institutional Review Board at Boston Children's, on which he served as chair for 35 years -- the longest serving in this role in the US. Peter's passion for helping others extended well beyond the walls of Boston Children's Hospital, to the jungles of Vietnam and the deserts of the Horn of Africa. His commitment to humanity is best illustrated by his efforts to help rebuild the lives of children affected by war. He was instrumental in evacuating injured Vietnamese children to the US and Europe for treatment and for sending medical equipment and supplies to Vietnam. He also spent decades helping the war-torn East African nation of Eritrea ensure that their young war orphans were properly cared for. He chronicled his efforts in numerous publications that emphasized the importance of providing the youngest victims of war with a voice and ensuring the mental health and well-being of children. His commitment to these efforts is representative of his commitment to, and success in, making the world a better place. Peter touched the lives of more people than he knew. Colleagues remember him as a father figure and mentor. He was loved and admired for his kindness, intelligence, curiosity and humor; for his ethics and morality, his concern with every injustice, and his courage. Above all, he was humble. Peter is predeceased by his wife of 49 years, Carol, and two grandsons, Curtis and Christian. He is survived by his brother Jan (Edith) of Bethesda, MD, children Stefan (Angela) of Hondo, TX, Tanya of Leesburg, VA, Jan (Lee) of Watertown, MA, Niko of Durham, NC, grandchildren (Shane, Alec, Haley, Vincent), in-laws, nieces and nephews. Recently reflecting on his life, he asked: "What have I done?" We know, and we say with admiration, "What you have done!" Peter will be missed by all, but his long and accomplished life will be remembered and celebrated by all.

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