With great sadness we announce the passing of Harlan Spitz, M.D., on February 29 2024, in Greenport, New York. He was 84 years old and died from Parkinson’s disease. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, son of the late Henry and Rose Spitz. Survived by his daughter, Rivi Handler-Spitz, his brother Arnold and Arnold’s wife Toby Spitz, their children David and Naomi, five grandnieces and grandnephews, and many other cherished family members, friends, and colleagues.

Harlan earned his bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Princeton University and his MD with honors from Yale Medical School. Following a pediatrics internship and residency he served as a Captain/pediatrician in the U.S. Air Force. Then, after a combined residency in adult psychiatry and fellowship in child psychiatry at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, he practiced child, adolescent, and adult psychiatry for 25 years at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and its affiliate institutions.

Following retirement from NYS Service in 2004, Harlan served as a Consultant Psychiatrist in child and adolescent psychiatry in New Zealand six months a year for four years in a district health clinic with a sizable Maori population.

Harlan had a wide range of interests which he enjoyed immensely and pursued to their fullest including: tennis, cycling, cross country skiing, kayaking, sailing, music, folk guitar, and extensive international and domestic travel. As one of his colleagues at Bronx Children’s Hospital said of him: “Whether it’s cross-country skiing or cycling, cross-disciplinary discussion or problem resolution, Dr. Spitz is that careful adventurer who enlivens the paths for all around him. Harlan is truly a physician for all seasons.”

For those who may wish to make a memorial contribution in tribute of Dr. Harlan Spitz may we suggest Albert Einstein College of Medicine, the details of which appear below. During his distinguished 25-year career in child, adolescent, and adult psychiatry Harlan trained, taught, and worked at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and its affiliated institutions. To make a contribution, click here: Make a gift online or call 718-430-2411.