Maressa Hecht Orzack

Noted psychologist, and loving mother, Maressa Hecht Orzack (86) of Mystic CT, formerly of Newton, MA, passed away November 11, 2010. Dr. Orzack died peacefully after a long illness. She is survived by her children: Deborah S. Orzack of Worcester, MA; Steven S. Orzack and wife Arianne Cherbuliez of Cambridge, MA; and Elizabeth Orzack Friedman and husband, Joshua Friedman of Waterford, CT; her grandchildren: Margot Elizabeth Friedman, Abraham Jacob Friedman, and Nora Cherbuliez-Orzack. She was predeceased by her husband, Louis Hirsch Orzack in 2003.

Dr. Orzack was born in Boston, MA and grew up in New York City. She graduated from University of Rochester with a BA in psychology, followed by an MA and a PhD from Columbia University in experimental psychology.

Dr. Orzack was a Clinical Associate in the Psychology and Psychopharmacology Program, Coordinator of the Behavior Therapy Affective Disease Program at McLean Hospital, and Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychology, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School and founded Computer Addictions Therapy Services (www.computeraddiction.com).

She was a member of Temple Israel in Brookline, MA, where a memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Newton Free Library, 330 Homer Street, Newton, MA 02459.

The family will have visiting hours Sunday and Monday, 7 - 9 p.m., at the home of Libby and Joshua Friedman, 21 Lloyd Road, Waterford, and on Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. at Congregation B'Nai Shalom, 117 East Main Street, Westborough, MA, 01581. A Full obituary is available at

www.neilanfuneralhome.com