HAROLD MICHAL-SMITH

MICHAL-SMITH--Harold of New York, December 20, 2011. Born Harold Smith in 1919 over his parents clothing store in Plattsburgh, he later hyphenated his last name to honor his mother's Michalson family, Baltic Jewish immigrants who settled in far upstate New York. From this modest start he created a life dedicated to the underprivileged and disabled. Dr. Michal-Smith earned undergraduate and masters degrees at Boston University and Harvard, before teaching and serving as school psychologist at Milford Academy. He then earned his psychology PhD at NYU and served on Princeton's faculty. Beginning in the 1950s, Dr. Michal-Smith focused on the needs of the developmentally disabled. He became a Professor of Pediatrics and Psychology at New York Medical College, and the Associate Director of its Mental Retardation Institute. Following exposure of abuses at Willowbrook State School on Staten Island (a facility for the mentally disabled) and ensuing lawsuits, Dr. Michal-Smith was appointed to the Review Committee to oversee compliance with the Court’s Consent Decree, work for which he was widely praised by public officials and advocates for the disabled alike. In recognition of his body of work in the field he was elected President of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. In addition to an active private practice, Dr. Michal-Smith authored several books, served on a number of Boards, worked with a broad international network of professionals, and received several awards for his efforts in the field. A lifelong traveler, he reveled in the people, culture, craft, and commerce of many countries. In retirement Dr. Michal-Smith was active in Ladina, an organization dedicated to the memory of Portuguese Jewish Marranos. He had a deep and abiding love of animals and was an early supporter of campaigns against vivisection. Dr. Michal-Smith will be remembered for his enduring love, generosity, and commitment toward friends and family alike. His long-term Partner, Dr. Murray Morganstern, and his brother, Dr. Stanley Smith, pre-deceased him. Dr. Michal-Smith is survived by his sister, Elaine Feiden, six nieces and nephews, 13 grandnieces and nephews, and one great-grandnephew. Memorial services at YAI, 460 W. 34 St., January 5, 5:00pm.