Webb Alexander Haymaker

Webb Alexander Haymaker, (January 8, 1976 – March 1, 2022) Webb was a caring and beloved member of the many circles of his life – family, friends around the country and world, clients, musicians, fellow therapists. He felt deeply about his responsibility to those who struggled with mental illness and the aftermath of trauma. Webb himself was among them. He used his fine mind and incredible empathy to help many through their times of darkness. Sadly, he died by suicide after a lifetime of enriching, consoling, helping others through their struggles. Webb was a native of Baton Rouge, LA and lived in New Orleans, LA at the time of his death. He also spent many happy years in Philadelphia, PA. He was a lifelong scholar with a wide and varied academic career. He particularly cherished his years at Carleton College, where many generations of his family have also studied. He earned two master's degrees (Contemporary Literature and Clinical Social Work) and pursued extensive post graduate professional development at the Psychoanalytic Center (Philadelphia) and the American Institute for Psychoanalysis (New York). He began his career as a psychotherapist working with children and adolescents, first in New Orleans at a community mental health agency and later at a drug diversion program for juvenile offenders in New Haven, CT. He possessed a particular gift for communicating with and supporting teenagers in crisis. He spent six years working as an adult therapist at the Mazzoni Center, an LGBTQ resource center in Philadelphia, PA. For the past three years, he treated adults from all walks of life in a busy private practice in New Orleans. He was an exceptional clinician with a humility that drove him to continually work at improving his craft. He was energized by integrating new skills which better supported the recovery and wellbeing of his clients. He was an active and respected board member of the New Orleans-Birmingham Psychoanalytic Center. A natural teacher, he contributed his passion as well as expert knowledge of psychoanalytic theory. He founded and led a popular weekly reading group, providing continuing education credit to other mental health professionals in New Orleans. He was a music lover with an expansive knowledge of jazz. A skilled musician himself, he took great joy in playing the saxophone at jazz jams as well as playing regularly with the marching group Kreweleidoscope, especially during Mardi Gras. Webb read widely, had a quirky sense of humor and a contagious laugh. He was an amazing father to his beloved daughter, Rona, and was excited about parenting a new baby on the way. A service of remembrance will the held at the Baton Rouge Unitarian Church on Saturday, April 16th at 10 AM. If you cannot attend in person, the service may be viewed on the church website: https://unitarianbr.org. His ashes will be put to rest in a private ceremony in Colorado. In lieu of flowers please honor Webb with a donation to NAMI New Orleans, (https://namineworleans.org) or the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence https://www.csgv.org.