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Henry P. David

Henry David Obituary

DAVID HENRY P. DAVID 1923 - 2009 Henry P. David, Ph.D., founder and long-time director of the Transnational Family Research Institute, Bethesda, died on December 31, 2009. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Tema; daughter, Gail; son-in-law, Steven Heydemann and granddaughters, Sarah and Julia David Heydemann. He is predeceased by his son, Jonathan. A memorial service will be held Sunday, January 31 at 1 p.m. at Fox Hill, 8300 Burdette Rd., Bethesda, MD. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Psychological Foundation, Henry P. David Fund, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002.

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Published by The Washington Post on Jan. 6, 2010.

Memories and Condolences
for Henry David

21 Entries

Daniela Draghici

January 1, 2023

Dear Tema, after all the years I've known Henry and the time since his passing I mention his work on Romanian women more often and I am grateful for his vision and compassion. He will never be forgotten. The photo is from my visit to Ipas in 2018. Daniela Draghici, Romania

Olga Voronina

January 30, 2010

Dear Tema,

On behalf of the Boardand staff of the Moscow Center for Gender Studies I want to express our deepest condolences to you on the loss of Henry. Meeting Henry was a true blessing and his passing is a great loss for all of us. He was a unique person, and we learned so much from him - as a scholar and as a humanist. Henry David was a member of the MCGS Advisory Board and he was our dear friend for many years. He extended his generous support to us in the midst of the turbulent 1990s allowing our aspirations, ideas and even ourselves to withstand the hardships of those transitional years in Russia. Henry played an instrumental role in the development of a number of formative initiatives to protect women’s rights in Russia which thanks to his personal support got off the ground and sustained for years ahead.

Dear Tema, we know about your special and very important role in Henry's life and in his public activity. We want you to know that our thoughts are with you and your family during this very sad time and we send to you our deepest sympathy. Henry will remain forever in our memories and in our hearts.

Olga Voronina,
ExecutiveDirector
of Moscow Center for Gender Studies,
Russia

Nadia Azhgikhina

January 29, 2010

I got last message from Henry December 27, he answered my seasonal greeteings and invited to their Bethesda new home. I think I was one of last foreign guests in an old house of Henry and Tema before they sold it. I was luckey to be one of many Eastern European professionals working with Henry David on defferent projects on women's rights and reproductive issues for more than 10 years, and it was more than traditional partnership. His wisdom, kinedness, deep understanding of people and European and global realities, energy and dedication to human rtights made real difference in our souls and professional activities.As a journalist I was happy to publish a couple of intervews and essays based on our conversations in Russian. He was extraoprdinary man, real hero of our epoch.Henry will be with us for ever, and his optimism and belief in people and humanist values will be with us as well.
Nadia Azhgikhina, Russian PEN member, member of International Federation of Journalists Gender Council, Executive Secretary of Russian Union of Journalists

Nadia Azhgikhina

January 29, 2010

Anastasia Posadskaya-Vanderbeck

January 26, 2010

Dearest Tema:

It is difficult to believe that Henry is no longer with us. He was a Friend and a Mentor who always was there for me and for so many of us - as we moved through our personal and political journeys. No words can express how generous he was with his time, advise and heart to the emerging feminist research institution - Moscow Center for Gender Studies - as a member of the international advisory board and as a dear and caring friend. He opened the world of opportunity to me and many other young researches and activists entering the battle field for women's reproductive rights and health. We will remember Henry's intellectual brilliance and his passion for evidence-based policy which created a golden standard that we strive to follow in our advocacy. But most importantly, we will remember a kind and generous friend who embraced us with the open heart and kept us in his embrace faithfully for many years.

Tema, I've been so privileged to have known you and Henry for almost 20 years. I know that you've played an enormous role in his life and especially in helping Henry to empower his many friends in Russia and beyond and I thank you for this. In these very sad days for you and all your family I am sending to you my love and I am keeping you in my prayers.

Be well and be strong.

Anastasia (Asya)

Founding Director,
Moscow Center for Gender Studies

January 19, 2010

To the family,

Henry was a stalwart, compassionate and unusual friend of women's reproductive health rights worldwide. I will miss him.

Adrienne Germain
President
International Women's Health Coalition

January 16, 2010

Dear Tema -
Henry was such a gentleman, a scholar, a friend, a mentor. His kind words, his thoughtful, clear and consistent contributions, his graciousness, his passionate advocacy remain and will remain. We have all heard and take with us his words, "be well." I join the many around the world who send you deepest condolences and strength.
Merry Bullock

Elizabeth Maguire

January 15, 2010

Dear Tema,

On behalf of the Board and staff of Ipas, I want to express our deepest sympathy to you for the loss of Henry. Our field will not be the same without Henry’s creative intellect, visionary thinking, and above all, his great compassion for the problems women face in exercising their reproductive rights. He will always be remembered for blazing new trails with his research and writing over his long career and for his leadership in inspiring others to follow after him.

We pledge our best efforts to carry forward work that in many ways he began decades ago, when he first turned his attention to the psychosocial issues around unwanted pregnancy and abortion. He showed enormous courage and dedication in bringing to light the realities and importance of these issues when others found it easier to shy away.

Henry’s generous gift of his books and materials to Ipas and his constant support over the years were a source of great pride for the entire organization. The Henry David Collection in the Ipas Resource Center will be one of his many enduring legacies. We are very glad that you were able to visit in October and see it together -- and enormously grateful to have this tangible reminder of Henry.

With deep condolences and fond regards,

Liz Maguire,
President & CEO, Ipas

Joan Chrisler

January 15, 2010

I was very sad to learn of Henry's death. I have known him for many years through our activities with the International Council of Psychologists and APA Division 52 (International Psychology). I was always delighted to see Henry. He was so kind to me over the years, and I learned so much from talking with him. His loss will be felt keenly by his family, friends, and colleagues. Those who did not have the good fortune to know him personally will remember him because of his many contributions to the fields of psychology and public health. My sympathy to all who mourn his loss.

Karin Ringheim

January 15, 2010

Dear Tema,
George and I were away for the holidays and didn't learn of Henry's death until this morning in the Washington Post. Henry was a mentor to me and an inspiration for so many of us in the field of reproductive health. He will never lose a place in our hearts. As he gently ended each conversation and email, we say to you " Be well" dear Tema. Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with you and your family.

Karin Ringheim and George Brockway.

Marcel Vekemans

January 11, 2010

Dear Tema,

I always admired Henry for his incredibly high achievements, his intelligence, perspicaity, gentleness. I visited you both in Bethesda with my friend John May and we were so warmly received. What a gentle hospitality was that ! I often spoke about Henry with France Donnay, always a great fan of Henry and his work. And with the people at Ipas who were so much grateful after receiving Henry's books about abortion.

Henry was a great man, and I'msure you supported him a lot. Both of you have done a lot for the women in the world. Thank you so much!

January 11, 2010

Dear Tema:

Please accept my deepest sympathy. I admired Henry very much. In particular, I admired his human values and his intellectual qualities. He was a Master and a Mentor. We will all remember him for ever.

With warm regards,

Jean-Claude Chesnais, INED, Paris, France

Barbara Crane

January 10, 2010

Dear Tema,
I cannot believe that Henry is gone from our midst. My deepest sympathy to you and your family for such a great loss. You may remember that I first met you and Henry when I moved near you in Bethesda nearly 20 years ago. His encouragement was so important throughout the time I have known him but particularly at the beginning, when I was doing my own first writing on abortion policy and politics internationally. Before I had the opportunity to join USAID in 1992, I worked with him on editing an article he subsequently published on abortion in Europe. I can think of no one more clear and incisive in his intellectual vision of reproductive health issues and yet kind and gentle as a person. Meeting you and experiencing your gracious hospitality during visits to your beautiful home was even more of an inspiration. After I joined Ipas, I think you were even more thrilled than Henry and me when he and I hatched the plan for him to donate most of his books and materials to the Ipas Resource Center. And so began Julia Cleaver’s friendship with the two of you that I know she has treasured. Julia and I will always remember the visit you and Henry made to us at Ipas just a couple of months ago. I am so glad he was able to see what she has done to help preserve his legacy always and to ensure that other abortion researchers will build on the work he began to the benefit of women all around the world.

rebecca cook

January 9, 2010

dear Tema,

I am so sorry to hear of the loss of Henry David. I will always remember Henry as a superb research and teacher, and for his tireless work on Abortion Research Notes. His work, his inspiration and his compassion live on in so many ways. Bernard and i send our sympathies on your loss, rebecca cook

Jane Cottingham

January 8, 2010

I did not know Henry personally but have admired his work for many years. He was a true ground-breaker in the field of information about abortion and women's lives. I offer my sincere condolences to his wife and family.
Warm wishes.

Daniela Draghici

January 8, 2010

Dear Tema, nothing anyone could say can take away your grief. I know because I had my own share and I will never forget how you and Henry comforted me. I am going to give you back his words to me: "In my imagination, I am putting my arms around you with your head on my shoulder to try to comfort you. You are a strong woman and will overcome the hurt in time. And, your sense of humor will help you through each day."
Fondly - Be Well - Daniela, Romania

Frances Kissling

January 8, 2010

Dear Tema, Henry was one of a kind and he will be missed by many, including me. He was unfailingly generous to all, consistently served the causes he believed in, did so in a humble way and with great humor. He was one of the pillars of the reproductive health community. He loved life and it was clear that the two of you were partners in a great adventure. His work lives on and still informs much of what we think about women and their right to make decisions about their lives. My warmest condolences at your loss.

Ann Furedi

January 8, 2010

Henry was a wonderful, warm and modest man who was generous with his time, his ideas, his advice and encouragement.
Throughout the international pro-choice community, we will miss him greatly.
Tema - thoughts are with you, your family and all who loved Henry.

January 8, 2010

Tema, you may not remember but you and I have met twice, once over a decade ago when we had dinner in DC, and once in London when you and Henry were in the UK travelling. Of course this is to send all my love and kind thoughts to you -- I can only imagine the hole in your life now, after so many years. You will know full well too the hole there is now in the life of the women's health movement, including for academics like me to whom Henry was so generous. He gave me so much help and support over the years, and of course his life's work stands as a truly inspiring legacy to the world. Ellie Lee, London

January 8, 2010

I am very sorry indeed to hear of Henry's death. I have published and publicised his work in the past and learned a great deal from him over the years, which I will always be grateful for. He always had a hug and a warm word when we met at conferences. His contribution to the field was enormous. He will be greatly missed. My sympathies for your loss.

Marge Berer,
Editor, Reproductive Health Matters,
London, UK

January 7, 2010

Dearest Tema:
Anne and I mourn the passing of Henry. We want to offer our condolences to you and your family. Henry was a friend, a mentor, and an inspiration. In his gentle and warm way, he did touch our lives indeed.
Anne & John F. May

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