David A. S. Garfield

The love of friends and family carry you through your grief.

I went to Evanston Township High School with David. My memories are so fond of him - of his friendship to a newly transplanted kid from a broken home who was struggling to fit in - of his generosity and kindness. And those summer days of playing and working on the clay courts at Northwestern University were of particular fun. I also remember his parents and the loving support they had for him. An affirmation that parents could really support and nurture their children. It's no surprise then why he chose to become a psychiatrist and in so doing helped so many others. RIP David.

In high school, I was dating a member of David´s posse, but David was the one. It was always David. He stood way out from among them all.

i had been a patient of dr garfield for 30 years. He went above and beyond
to help me through some of the worst times of my life. He was an incredible person and will be truly missed.
may you rest in peace all my love,
kathy

I learnt the sad news today. I was among those students who were fortunate enough to benefit from his instruction. Dr Garfield was a most beloved teacher, who molded so many of us not only by his invaluable instruction but just by being who he was, a truly compassionate person, one who had dedicated his life to making a difference in others' lives. He is and will be missed.

I had the privilege of knowing Dr. David Garfield at first as one of my main professional mentors; later in life, I had the honor of knowing him as a friend. He was a great teacher, always humble and passionate in his work. He encouraged me to write book reviews with him, and in the process I learned from both his critical thinking and his open-mindedness to new ideas and theories. He introduced me to the student mental health services that he ran at Rosalind Franklin University and, after graduation, assigned me as a staff psychiatrist for that clinic for many years, where I continued to learn from his mentorship. Striving for the wellness of his patients, especially young students, was his passion and his goal. On a personal note, I´ve always been very grateful to him for the care he showed when I lost my wife to cancer. One of the saddest days I remember was the day that Dr. Garfield called me to say that he was experiencing progression of his Parkinson´s and dementia and thus was going to retire from practice, asking me to take over the care of a number of his patients. It is an uncommon practice and a sign of his remarkable care that he took the time to find appropriate new providers one by one for each of his patients. Later, seeing him in more advanced stages of disease was very painful. His love, knowledge, teaching, and passion for his students, residents, and patients will be forever cherished by those whose lives he touched. My deepest condolences and most sincere sympathy to his wife and family.

I didn't know Dr. David professionally. I knew he was accomplished in his field, but wow! My memories are of his visits years ago when I got to spend time with David on his family vacations to California. I knew him as a smart, easygoing, funny, handsome, and loveable man that I was lucky enough to call my cousin. I love this old photo of us looking out at the sailboats in Santa Cruz, CA. Sail on, dear cousin. You will be missed, but your spirit will live on forever and always!

Dr. Garfield gave me a chance and opened a door for me that no other person would. I am eternally grateful to Dr. Garfield.

Dr. Garfield opened a door for me that no one else would. I will be eternally grateful to you Dr. Garfield, thank you.

When David came to Boston for his residency we made plans to go out for dinner. Unfortunately, when he arrived I was limping around because earlier that day I was hiking and had fallen off a ledge. So instead of dinner he took me to the ER!

David ( Dr Garfield) saw my daughter as a patient after her first psychiatric hospitalization. This was back maybe five years ago, for a few years until he retired. He was kind and patient with her, and us ( her parents) and got her stabilized.
We always think of him fondly. I still
Have a little jade elephant he brought back for her when he went to India. Sending our thoughts and prayers to your family.

BUDD and Vicki Eichner
.

My first memory of Dr. Garfield was during my residency interview at RFUMS. He definitely was a reason I chose this program first. I will always remember his mild smile and gentle demeanor. RIP, David Garfield!

Dr Garfield was just wonderful ,he was a great teacher and mentor .He helped me during my transition to Houston .I remember him with gratitude,he will be missed by so many of his Residents.
May he rest in peace forever.

I am deeply sorry for the loss of Dr. Garfield for his family and hundreds of trainees he taught and mentored over the years, and his colleagues! I met Dr. Garfield in 2008 when I started my residency training at Chicago Medical School. His love and passion for the psychiatry field and his special connection with trainees was glowing. He was my psychodynamic therapy supervisor and my mentor during my residency training, and his words of wisdom with psychodynamic meaning always found a way weaving into all my therapy sessions with my patients and in my professional career. I have felt connected in an intergenerational way with him and all his mentors such as Leston Havens and Semrad, and I am deeply grateful I got to meet him and them through him!

I knew David as a mentor, colleague, and friend. I will miss him very much, and I offer my sympathies to his family and friends.

Dr. David Garfield, a deeply respected psychiatrist, teacher, and mentor, has passed away, leaving an indelible mark on the field of psychiatry. As my teacher and therapy supervisor during my residency and later as a faculty member at CMS, Dr. Garfield saw potential in me that I hadn't yet realized. He pushed me to achieve my dreams, demonstrating how wisdom, patience, and compassion could turn crises into opportunities for growth. Hundreds of psychiatrists, myself included, were shaped by his guidance. As we mourn his passing, we honor his life of dedication and celebrate the legacy of knowledge and passion he leaves behind in the field he so loved

As my residency program director, I looked up to Dr. Garfield every day for years. I owe him much more than I can ever repay. His wisdom and compassion shaped the lives of many, including my wife and me. His mentorship not only deepened our understanding of the mind but also shaped the way we practice psychiatry. He touched countless lives with his generosity of spirit and commitment to mental health, forever guiding those fortunate enough to have learned from him. He left an enduring legacy and his impact will live on in the lives and work of the many he inspired.
My you soul Rest In Peace Dear Dr. G.

Dr. Garfield was a truly inspiring figure! I was a resident at CMS from 2011 to 2015, as a residency training director, Dr. Garfield guided me into this field with a sense of compassion and patience. I still rememberd he called me before I got to Chicago, welcomed me into the program as a new resident, asked me my research experience at NIH in a beautiful summer day in 2021, again in 2013 on the phone told me himself and faculties welcome me to rejoin the program after a three months break. Those memories kept with me until today. Dr. Garfield not just teach psychiatry, as a director, he sees potential in his residents, including me, modeling the balance of knowledge and deep human empathy. He will be dearly missed! Holly Wang

Dr. David Garfield was my program director and my psychotherapy supervisor.He loved art and poetry and I remember discussing E.E.Cummings during my residency interview, having seen his book on Dr.Garfield's shelf. He had genuine interest for people and many of us residents felt that. I hear myself teach residents several pearls of wisdom that I've learned from him during our supervision such as "Never worry alone" or " Where fear starts, therapy stops". I saw him last time in 2011 when he came to Boston to honor his great teacher Leston Havens who passed away. He signed his e-mails with
Best, Dr.G (something that was new to me coming to USA as I was only accustomed with endings such as Sincerely or Warmly) I loved that and started doing the same. So in a way every time I sign my email Dr.Garfield is still there. Dr.G I will miss you.
Best,
Natalija (aka Dr.B)

In going through graduates of the program, the sheer volume of past residents spoke to the incredible impact David Garfield has had on the psychiatry landscape across Chicago, the Midwest, and our country. He will be additionally remembered as a mentor to all, who imparted his clinical principles to multiple generations of mental health professionals.

Be assured that in many ways, David personally selected the people who now make up a significant percent of Chicago area psychiatrists.

Amazingly, this is only a small piece of his legacy - we look forward to also celebrating his writings, his care for patients, and his family.

On a more personal note, the only time I've seen David cry, is walking him to his car on his last official day. Whenever we caught up afterwards, David remembers us all at our best, happily chatting about the times he felt for each of us the fondest.

David was my friend, colleague, and mentor for 25 years. He brought kind and authentic leadership, scholarship, and pride into his work. His high standards and personal caring with so many residents and colleagues was inspiring.
I will always remember our fun and wide ranging discussions and collaborations.
What a privilege it has been to have worked closely with David.
John Bair

I remember David as a friend, mentor, senior faculty who was welcoming ever since I joined CMS/RFUMS in 2005. The best time of the day for me was lunches we had at the cafeteria. I would rush over from VA (FHCC) to have lunch and share a conversation over a wide range of topics. The last memory was a topic he wanted to write about "Dispersion". How ideas can be get a life of their own and spread in the society. In the current climate, I believe he was prophetic. Now I eat lunch alone in the cafeteria. Students or resident come by at times. David, You will be missed. When I got the news on Saturday I remembered a quote from The Wire (HBO) "Your rabbi has left the building".

I met David in my early days in private practice when my consulting room had become a type of hospital working with patients with psychosis. David enthusiastically offered to be my mentor and so started our meetings for years most Saturdays in his office. David was exquisitely attuned to the internal emotional lives of patients with psychosis and he cared deeply for my patients in spite of never meeting them. David taught me to be ambitions in my expectations for outcomes with patients. He passionately believed in meaningful recovery for patients with psychosis. We would talk together often sharing chocolate or candy -- David adored all things sweat. And as I left would hear Davids voice behind me: "call me this week if you need me." Over the years David's voice has become internalized within me as I work with patients or teach students. Often David and I would talk about our mutual love for dogs. On day David shared with me his grief at the recent death of one of his dogs and I shared my fears at the coming death of my own senior dog. At one point in the conversation David philosophically sat back in his chair and said: "yes the pain of the loss is real, but then when we are ready, we get another dog and do it all over again." I came to understand that David was saying we feel the pain of death of those we love but then we continue to love. And for me that will always be the most important thing David taught me to continue to love even in the face of painful loss.

David and I have been friends for over 35 years . We spoke several times a week. During these conversations i observed that he never complained and always had time for those who needed him. While we mourn his loss lets celebrate his life. A life that brought so much comfort to others

I had the privilege of knowing David since 1987, when he joined RFUMS as a Residency Training Director in Psychiatry. Over the course of 30 years in that role, he trained hundreds of physicians to become knowledgeable and successful psychiatrists. His emphasis on psychotherapy training helped shape our graduates into well-rounded psychiatrists.
David had a unique ability to connect with his trainees on a personal level. He took every opportunity to learn about their families and would engage with them whenever he could. His genuine care for the well-being of his trainees extended far beyond their academic success, reflecting his deep commitment to both their personal and professional growth.

RIP my friend.

My deepest condolences to Bonnie, the kids and the rest of the family.

David´s legacy will live on through the many lives he touch.

I remember David for his kindness and compassion. My favorite memory is of him hosting our residency graduation celebration at his house. His life was well lived and his help and care has created ongoing ripples. Sending love to his family and strength during this difficult time. With much gratitude, Malini Patel