SILVIO J. ONESTI

1926 - 2017

BORN

1926

DIED

2017

About

Lowell High School Stanford University Yale University

SILVIO ONESTI Obituary

ONESTI, Silvio J. Child Psychiatrist Dr. Silvio Joseph Onesti Jr. of Cambridge and Orleans, Massachusetts, died peacefully on 3/26/17 after a brief illness. Dr. Onesti, known as "Skip," was born in San Francisco, California, in 1926. He graduated from Lowell High School in San Francisco in 1941. After two years serving in the United States Navy, he subsequently graduated from Stanford University in 1947. He completed medical school at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, in 1951. He completed a pediatric residency at Yale University in 1956. After training for two years at Yale in adult psychiatry, he completed his child psychiatry training at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston in 1963. From 1966 to 1972, he served as the director of child psychiatry at Beth Israel. In 1973, he became the founding director of the Hall-Mercer Center for Children and Adolescents at Mclean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts, a position he occupied until 1991. He remained at Mclean Hospital in psychiatric practice and continued with teaching and mentoring of psychiatric residents. He was an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard, and had a long association with the Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry and the Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute. Dr. Onesti was noted for his devotion to the care of psychiatric patients, with a particular interest in child and adolescent psychiatry. He was an inspiring physician, mentor, colleague, and friend. He is survived by his beloved wife of over 60 years, Jean Thomas Onesti, his daughter, Sally Onesti Blair of Washington, D.C., his son, Stephen T. Onesti, MD, of Bronxville, New York, and by three grandchildren. The family requests that memorial gifts be made to the Massachusetts Audubon Society's Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary.

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Published by Boston Globe from Mar. 27 to Mar. 28, 2017.

Memories and Condolences
for SILVIO ONESTI

7 Entries

Liberty

June 1, 2022

I was a patient from 4 years old for many years later. We shared a birthday and he'd call me with pleasant wishes. He was so kind and a great listener. Helped me in so many ways. Thank you and rest in peace.

Douglas Powell;

April 25, 2017

Have known Skip Onesti as an unusually competent therapist with troubled individuals and families. He took some of the most difficult cases from my consulting practice and helped them. Eventually Skip referred young people to me for help with school placement for young people exiting Hall Mercer on their journey back to living a normal life. Eventually our relationship transitioned from professional to personal. Have fond memories of lunches in Harvard Square and then in Concord. Sorry I missed seeing Skip at the end. Would have liked to have said, " Goodbye old friend."

Deborah Simkin, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Emory School of Medicine

April 10, 2017

I trained at McLean in child psychiatry. I had previously trained in adult psychiatry where my mentors were mostly analysts. I was constantly told I was not analytic enough and that my use of teaching patients about their struggles was wrong. In my first supervision with Dr. Onesti , I apologized for using the same technique. He listened. The second time I did the same and he again listened. The third time I went to his office he stopped me at the door and said "the next time you apologize for having a gift in child psychiatry don'the come back to my office". He explained (taught me) that my other mentors felt inadequate in their ability to do what l did so they projected their inadequacy on me. He stated if they had been secure they would have been able to point out my natural ability to be a child psychiatrist and that I simply was not meant to be an analyst. It the was the first time I truly felt I had a real mentor. He taught me so much. His humility and genuine desire to mentor and teach is something I will never forget. I cannot tell you how many times I have told that story and how it has helped me to mentor others. I called him through the years to give him an update on my son. I will pass on the gifts he gave me during those supervision and hopefully they will be passed on by others for many generations.

March 28, 2017

Our deepest sympathies to the Onesti family. Peggy LaVigne and Family

Mary McDermott

March 28, 2017

Dear Jean,

I'll miss seeing you and Skip at the Sparrow, where I am a "regular". Although we didn't talk much beyond "Good Morning," he always had a pleasant smile. You and I spoke briefly once about England. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Steve Auster

March 28, 2017

I was fortunate to have trained under Skip's supervision at the Hall Mercer Center. I learned a lot from him and considered him a friend.

March 28, 2017

My deepest condolences for your loss. May the "God of all comfort" (2 Cor 1:3) truly be a source of comfort for you as you reflect on many good memories.

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