Obituary for Dr. Joseph D. Lichtenberg
On May 19th, Joseph D. Lichtenberg, M.D., of Bethesda, Maryland and formerly of Baltimore, Maryland died at age 95.
He is survived by children Ann Shofer (Henry Shofer) of Owings Mills, Md., Amy Lichtenberg of Cottonwood, Ariz., Dr. Maryland Pao (Dr. Steven Holland) of Bethesda, Md., Dr. William Pao (Victoria Chu Pao) of Basel, Switzerland; grandchildren Kathryn Shofer, Andrew Shofer, Alexandra Shofer, Jennifer Holland (Steve Dannenberg), Madeline Holland, Elizabeth Holland, Allison Pao, Lucas Pao; great-granddaughter Winnie Dannenberg and companion Dr. Mady Chalk.
He was pre-deceased by his wife of 63 years Charlotte Silberstein Lichtenberg; parents Hortense Davis Lichtenberg Baker and Sam Lichtenberg; and maternal aunt Mindelle Davis Ehrlich.
Dr. Lichtenberg had a long and extremely productive career as a psychoanalyst and as a prolific contributor to the body of psychoanalytic theory. He wrote numerous books, chapters, and articles on topics as varied as infant research, ego psychology, self psychology, his Motivational Systems Theory, as well as principles of psychoanalytic techniques. He was most proud of his second book, Psychoanalysis and Motivation, published in 1989. Dr. Lichtenberg inspired several generations of mental health professionals through his writing, teaching, and mentoring and maintained a private psychoanalytic practice for 55 years. He also pursued the psychoanalytic understanding of great literature, both in articles he wrote, as well as through an ongoing study group he founded over 50 years ago called the “Creativity Seminar.” Dr. Lichtenberg was known for his generous spirit and for the way he lived his life to the fullest and on his own terms.
He was a graduate of Baltimore City College, Johns Hopkins University, and received a medical degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine in 1950.
His commitment to serving his country began when he enlisted in the United States Navy in 1943. He served in the Navy for three years during World War ll. During that time, he became a naval officer after attending Midshipmen School at Columbia University. He was then stationed on the Harlan R. Dickson Navy destroyer in the Pacific as the ship’s secretary as well as a naval officer.
Once he completed medical school in 1950, he completed his internship, residency, and further training at West Baltimore General Hospital, Lutheran Hospital of Maryland, Spring Grove State Hospital, Sheppard Pratt Psychiatric Hospital- 1953-1956, as well as the Baltimore-Washington Psychoanalytic Institute.
He then started a private psychoanalytic practice in Baltimore, as well as consulting for the Supreme Bench of Maryland, where he worked under Manfred Guttmacher in forensic psychiatry. Eventually, he became clinical director of the Sheppard Pratt Psychiatric Hospital in Baltimore.
In 1968, Dr. Lichtenberg continued his commitment to serving his country by working at the State Department in Washington, DC. as well as the Central Intelligence Agency for over 30 years. During this time, he continued to treat patients in private practice. He moved to the Washington area in 1969.
He was elected to active membership in the American Psychoanalytic Association in 1963 and continued to be an active member on their program committee, as well as a frequent presenter at annual conferences. In 1979, he created and served as editor- in- chief of the journal Psychoanalytic
Inquiry. He co-founded the Institute of Contemporary Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis (ICP+P) with Rosemary Segalla in Washington in 1994. Over the years, Dr. Lichtenberg taught at the Washington Psychoanalytic Institute, The Washington School of Psychiatry, Sheppard Pratt Psychiatric Hospital, and ICP+P, as well as Johns Hopkins University. He was a clinical professor of psychiatry at the Georgetown University School of Medicine.
Funeral services are private. In lieu of flowers please consider a contribution to Weekend Backpacks for Homeless Kids at weekendbackpacks.org or the charity of your choice. The family will be in mourning at 7 Falling Leaf Court, Owings Mills, MD 21117.
He is survived by children Ann Shofer (Henry Shofer) of Owings Mills, Md., Amy Lichtenberg of Cottonwood, Ariz., Dr. Maryland Pao (Dr. Steven Holland) of Bethesda, Md., Dr. William Pao (Victoria Chu Pao) of Basel, Switzerland; grandchildren Kathryn Shofer, Andrew Shofer, Alexandra Shofer, Jennifer Holland (Steve Dannenberg), Madeline Holland, Elizabeth Holland, Allison Pao, Lucas Pao; great-granddaughter Winnie Dannenberg and companion Dr. Mady Chalk.
He was pre-deceased by his wife of 63 years Charlotte Silberstein Lichtenberg; parents Hortense Davis Lichtenberg Baker and Sam Lichtenberg; and maternal aunt Mindelle Davis Ehrlich.
Dr. Lichtenberg had a long and extremely productive career as a psychoanalyst and as a prolific contributor to the body of psychoanalytic theory. He wrote numerous books, chapters, and articles on topics as varied as infant research, ego psychology, self psychology, his Motivational Systems Theory, as well as principles of psychoanalytic techniques. He was most proud of his second book, Psychoanalysis and Motivation, published in 1989. Dr. Lichtenberg inspired several generations of mental health professionals through his writing, teaching, and mentoring and maintained a private psychoanalytic practice for 55 years. He also pursued the psychoanalytic understanding of great literature, both in articles he wrote, as well as through an ongoing study group he founded over 50 years ago called the “Creativity Seminar.” Dr. Lichtenberg was known for his generous spirit and for the way he lived his life to the fullest and on his own terms.
He was a graduate of Baltimore City College, Johns Hopkins University, and received a medical degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine in 1950.
His commitment to serving his country began when he enlisted in the United States Navy in 1943. He served in the Navy for three years during World War ll. During that time, he became a naval officer after attending Midshipmen School at Columbia University. He was then stationed on the Harlan R. Dickson Navy destroyer in the Pacific as the ship’s secretary as well as a naval officer.
Once he completed medical school in 1950, he completed his internship, residency, and further training at West Baltimore General Hospital, Lutheran Hospital of Maryland, Spring Grove State Hospital, Sheppard Pratt Psychiatric Hospital- 1953-1956, as well as the Baltimore-Washington Psychoanalytic Institute.
He then started a private psychoanalytic practice in Baltimore, as well as consulting for the Supreme Bench of Maryland, where he worked under Manfred Guttmacher in forensic psychiatry. Eventually, he became clinical director of the Sheppard Pratt Psychiatric Hospital in Baltimore.
In 1968, Dr. Lichtenberg continued his commitment to serving his country by working at the State Department in Washington, DC. as well as the Central Intelligence Agency for over 30 years. During this time, he continued to treat patients in private practice. He moved to the Washington area in 1969.
He was elected to active membership in the American Psychoanalytic Association in 1963 and continued to be an active member on their program committee, as well as a frequent presenter at annual conferences. In 1979, he created and served as editor- in- chief of the journal Psychoanalytic
Inquiry. He co-founded the Institute of Contemporary Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis (ICP+P) with Rosemary Segalla in Washington in 1994. Over the years, Dr. Lichtenberg taught at the Washington Psychoanalytic Institute, The Washington School of Psychiatry, Sheppard Pratt Psychiatric Hospital, and ICP+P, as well as Johns Hopkins University. He was a clinical professor of psychiatry at the Georgetown University School of Medicine.
Funeral services are private. In lieu of flowers please consider a contribution to Weekend Backpacks for Homeless Kids at weekendbackpacks.org or the charity of your choice. The family will be in mourning at 7 Falling Leaf Court, Owings Mills, MD 21117.