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Tributes
David Phillips, DSW, AAPCSW Past President
April 6, 1935 - April 4, 2015
In Memoriam
by William S. Meyer, MSW
A number of years ago … I asked my analytic supervisor what the definition of “malpractice” was in the context of psychoanalysis. He considered my question for a minute, and then said that since psychoanalysts never touch their patients he did not think there was any such thing as malpractice in psychoanalysis. In retrospect I now feel almost grateful to him for that gross piece of misinformation since it contributed greatly to putting me on my main professional track, and I have learned a great deal over the last twenty years in understanding just how wrong he was, and why. (Phillips, D.G., 2003)
Such was the quality of intriguing and inviting writing from the late David G. Phillips, DSW. David, who died on April 4th, 2015, two days shy of his 80th birthday, was a President of the AAPCCSW and I was his successor.* David suggested that he could be of most help to me as incoming President if we could arrange a time to talk with each other on the phone every Sunday evening, which we did for a year. As David patiently “broke me in,” I discovered his knowledge of the history of social work and psychoanalytic organizations was vast. David’s rich intellect, deep empathy and razor-sharp wit made these one-on-one consultations a rare treat, whereas with someone of lesser talents, these weekly meetings could have been for me an unbearable bore. I also had the privilege of sitting next to David during a number of meetings of the Psychoanalytic Consortium and it was not lost on me how respected he was by the Presidents and leadership of the other psychoanalytic organizations.
When colleagues became aware of David’s passing, the heartfelt tributes from the luminaries and icons of clinical social work came pouring in, mostly in reference to David’s contributions to social work ethics and his generosity in helping his colleagues struggle with ethical questions. Some direct quotes: “… an invaluable contributor to the world of social work ethics;” “ … a visionary leader … a person who loved people;” “ … … warm, friendly, accessible, gentle and kind;” “ … a true gentleman;” “I will forever carry his philosophy of ethics with me; ” “…an internal good object -- always ready to help me;” “ … a guiding light for all of us for decades; ” “ … a tireless advocate for psychoanalytic social work, always willing to assume leadership positions in professional organizations and to help colleagues struggling with legal and ethical concerns.”
Many people commented on their enjoyment of David’s wry wit and, knowing David, I think he would have been delighted for me to share one of my favorite memories, demonstrating why that is so. As President and President-elect respectively, one of our charges was to attend the Psychoanalytic Consortium with the leaders of the other major American psychoanalytic organizations. During these meetings, which often involved debates about training standards, etc., discussions could become quite heated. During one such especially contentious discussion, a representative from one of the other psychoanalytic organizations, essentially lost it. Shaking and red in the face, this man glared at the rest of us, shouted and scolded everyone seated around the table. A stony silence fell over the participants in that extremely tense room. David leaned over and whispered in my ear – and this was so inimitably David – “Can you imagine,” David said, with his wry smile, “what this guy must have been like before his analysis!”
I will leave the last words of this brief essay to his wife Mary Anne. (I was stunned, incidentally, to learn that Mary Anne also passed away, just months after David’s death). Immediately after David died, Mary Anne wrote, “David held himself to very high standards of ethical and moral behavior. He had a great deal of personal integrity. As a husband, he was loyal and trustworthy. In addition, he was incredibly kind, generous and giving. We were married for 45 years and had what we thought was an unusually happy marriage. We spoiled each other rotten and we felt so lucky to have each other in our lives. Thankfully, we told this to each often. Despite the suddenness of his death, nothing was left unsaid or unresolved between us.”
David’s death was an enormous loss to social work, to
psychoanalysis, and to all who care about ethical practice.
~ William S. Meyer, MSW
* David was also a training and supervising analyst at the Postgraduate Center for Mental Health in New York City and an adjunct Associate Professor at the Wurzweiler School of Social Work of Yeshiva University. He was named a Distinguished Practitioner in Social Work by the National Academies of Practice, Ethics Chair and Past President of the New York State Society for Clinical Social Work and Co-Chair of the Professional Standards Committee of the Clinical Social Work Federation. He had written numerous papers, particularly concerning the matter of ethics and clinical standards, and co-edited books on the impact of managed care.
Phillips, D. G. (2003). “Dangers of Boundary Violations in the Treatment of Borderline Patients.” Journal of Clinical Social Work. 31(3):315-326.
Tributes
It is with great shock and sadness that I share with you the sudden passing of our esteemed colleague and
friend, David Phillips. He was a founding member of the NYS Society for Clinical Social Work and an
invaluable contributor to the world of social work ethics among many other accomplishments.
~ Marsha Wineburgh
David's sudden passing is beyond words. David was a visionary, leader, and above all a person who
loved people. I remember first working with him during the early days of the development of the
NYSSCSW in 1970 when clinical social work was suffering its near demise by the NASW's attempt
to lower standards; the New York State 1971 Peter Biondo bill that attempted to give the
right of psychology to supervise all clinical social workers (still have a copy); and the
lack of recognition by psychiatry. In our meetings, I never saw David flinch at realizing
the compounding difficulties facing our profession. He had a calm forcefulness that not
only captured the attention of our members but impressed the members of the state
legislature. It was as if David somehow knew we would survive if we steadfastly
kept moving forward. He enthusiastically supported the need to include psychoanalysis
as a function of clinical social work to ensure parity with psychology with medicine.
As we know, David was dedicated to preserving and clarifying ethical standards
for our profession. Perhaps it was this dedication to honesty and fairness
that best captures David's character. His leadership continues in my mind.
~ Crayton Rowe
That really and terribly saddens me, Marsha. David was the president of the AAPCSW (then, the NMCOP),
when I was president-elect and, as such, we would talk with each other every Sunday evening as he patiently
tutored me and “broke me in,” so to speak, on what I needed to know to assume organizational responsibilities.
I sat next to him during many Consortium Meetings and I vividly remember how respected he was by the presidents
and leadership of the other psychoanalytic organizations. David's common sense, keen intellect and wry wit
(he really enjoyed humor) were qualities I deeply admired. He was a true mentor to me in so many ways.
What a substantial loss to all of us.
~ William (Bill) Meyer
David was a great mentor to many of us and a valued contributor to all, especially for his expertise in ethics.
My favorite memories of David, however, are of a lighter side. We shared a number of meals together
and, with his wife Mary Anne, we thoroughly enjoyed food and foodie conversations. I am so sorry to hear
of his death and I will miss him greatly. He was a great teacher, colleague, mentor and friend.
~ Barbara Berger
I am deeply saddened at the death of Dave Phillips and wish to extend my heartfelt condolences to
Mary Anne, to all his friends and family, and to our social work community. He is a loss for us all.
I initially met Dave when we shared our efforts on the first Study Group, to which he made a most
significant contribution. From that point on I have appreciated his wisdom, his integrity,
his hard work, his caring for those we serve and his deep devotion to our field. One felt
one could count on him to know the appropriate steps to resolving an issue and to guide us
in moving forward. He was warm, friendly, accessible, gentle and kind as well firm and
steady in his views and stances. He will be deeply missed both personally and by our profession.
~ Joyce Edward
My heart fills with sadness to the overflowing! I came to know David during the very early
years of the Study Group in the late 70s where we served together & we worked together
on a subcommittee tasked with clarifying standards for psychoanalytic training. During my
time as Chair of the Study Group, he was such a constant source of consultation & support.
Although our contacts were only via e-mail after I left New York, it was so good to know he was
there. I consulted with him last in 2013 around a difficult clinical-legal issue; and his
steadfast support, of course, was there as always. I will so miss reading his comments on
the Listserve: his clinical sensitivity, clarity of thinking, and steadfast ability to apply
all to any situation at hand -- all that & much more was so evident in everything he wrote.
And he loved his horses and riding -- his horses will miss him also, I am sure.
My heart goes out to his dear Mary Anne!
~ Marga Speicher
I would like to add my voice to the many who have already expressed sadness and dismay at
the passing of David Phillips. David has been an esteemed colleague as well as personal
friend who I knew since the 1970’s when I underwent my training in psychoanalysis at the then
Postgraduate Psychoanalytic Institute for Mental Health. He invited me to become education
chairperson of the New York State Society of Mental Health and we worked together for many
years since. He was a wise as well as a gifted leader who made a lasting contribution to the
field of social work. He will be missed.
~ Dianne Heller Kaminsky
This sad news is quite unbelievable. David and I had been working on an article together for the past
year that just got published and had breakfast in New York two months ago. He was about to start revising
the CSWA Code of Ethics. There is no one who had the breadth of knowledge that he had about ethics in
clinical social work. He was a delightful person and an invaluable friend. I will miss him greatly.
Mourning his loss will be very hard.
~ Laura W. Groshong
Back in the 80's I was fortunate to work on the new Ethics initiative with David. As others have
eloquently stated David's keen mind, wit and steady hand made all who worked with and knew him better
for it. He is already missed.
~ Carl
I would like to join you in expressing my sorrow about David's death and extend my condolences to
his family. I have fond memories of David from our work at the Clinical Social Work Federation
(currently CSWA) and the early days of the formation of AAPCSW. I appreciated his integrity and disciplined
scholarly approach to professional issues in general and his commitment to our social work values and
ethics in particular. In addition to his work on our ethical guidelines, he also contributed much to
the National Academies of Practice's articulation of ethical principles in interdisciplinary practice.
And, with his gracious and friendly manners he was also a true gentleman. We have lost a valuable
leader of our profession.
~ Golnar Simpson
My condolences to Mary Anne, David's family, close friends and close colleagues. I only spent two
occasions with David, one at my home for the first meeting of the Greater Washington/Baltimore chapter
of the then National Committee on Psychoanalysis. David's presence along with Bill Meyer's provided
gravitas, a firming foundation. Later David presented one of the early Greater Washington Society
for Clinical Social Work ethics conferences. He and Mary Anne dined with our committee afterwards
and I observed the sweetness of caring between two gentle brilliant souls. In the back of my mind
I have since carried the conviction that should I ever have a complicated ethical question, 'tis David
to whom I would turn; I trust David, his wisdom, his clarity of focus and fine judgment, his solid
professional grounding, his integrity. I'm off balance…what a loss!!! David is/ was one of a kind,
irreplaceable. I am so fortunate to have had him in my clinical social work community.
Sincerely,
~ Audrey Thayer Walker
I too share in the grief that all of you have expressed. I had the privilege of working on the
Ethics Committee that David chaired for the then NFSCSW (in the mid-90s), then Clinical Social Work
Federation now Association. David was, as many have noted a brilliant theoretician, clinician, and
ethicist. While the current code of ethics for the CSWA is in need of revisions, the fact that it
has held up so well for so long is a testament to David's understanding of the essence of ethical
behavior. I will forever carry his philosophy of ethics with me.
My best to all that knew him more
closely than I,
~ Keith Myers
I'm dismayed to hear of David's passing. Through the years he has been a wise, intelligent, and
eloquent advocate for the highest ethical standards of our profession. I was privileged to work with
him back in the 80's when we first began a series of updates to what was then the National Federation
of Societies for Clinical Social Work's code of ethics. Since then he has been involved in virtually
every modernization of our ethics code to the one currently in use by the Clinical Social Work
Association and AAPCSW. Many times he has advised us on ethical issues via the AAPCSW listserve.
He was also invariably kind and gracious to those who worked with him or consulted him. This is a
big loss for clinical social work. Please convey my deepest sympathy to Mary Anne, and condolences
to all of you who knew him.
~ Betsy Horton
I am awed by the love and admiration that has poured out for David Phillips, and I am among the
admirers, and among those who will experience and feel his loss. I have thought of David as a partner
for as long as I have been a part of the clinical social work psychoanalytic world -- now a very
long time. He was an internal good object -- always ready to help me, in my mind's eye,
and always going to arrive with the best ethical and correct information. When he set
forth to provide an issue for Clinical Social Work on Psychoanalysis and Social Work,
and asked me to write an article about the Blancks, and Ego Psychology, I was again awed.
He helped underscore some major concepts in that paper. How wonderful that he, as well as others
could find the bridges of the two fields. I asked Diana Siskind to help me with that paper;
it was a sad time; my husband Niel died in the middle of the writing. How grateful I was to
Diana who stepped up to the plate, and how grateful I am to David for putting that Issue
together. It is a really wonderful issue. I will mourn his loss, and I feel sad. I will miss
seeing him at meetings. I think of us at AAPCSW as a community -- a family of sorts; and for
those of us who knew him we are in mourning. Much Love to all,
~ Patsy Turrini
The outpouring of feelings to David's sudden death is a testament to the powerful impact he's
had on the psychoanalytic clinical social work community -- his leadership including his role
as past president of AAPCSW and his expertise on professional ethics. As we hear of his early
involvement to protect clinical social work and psychoanalysis, in more recent years he reached
many of us through our list serve, especially on questions related to ethics. We have all gained
so much from David's contributions to the field, his knowledge and writings. Sadly, we have
lost an incredibly gifted person and professional. He will be missed.
~ Penny Rosen
I want to join Penny in recognizing David's enormous impact on our profession and would like to add his influence as a role model for those of us who needed social workers to look up to during our training. He had been my supervisor at the Postgraduate Center for Mental Health, my mentor and later my friend. Even though I had less personal contact with him as time went on, I always knew he would be there for me when I needed him. I will truly miss him too.
~ Denise ZalmanFrom Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, as a colleague, friend, and member
of the AAPCSW, I'm sending my heartfelt condolences on the sudden passing of the illustrious
Professor David Phillips. I remember my first contact with the NMCOP, 07/28/2001, David was
the past president, Bill Meyer the current president, and Barbara Berger, the president-elect.
I and other Brazilian social workers were thrilled with the receptivity from members of the
NMCOP (currently AAPCSW) for us and especially the respect and sensitivity to our
situation - clinical social workers “excommunicated” by our Brazilian Federal Council of Social Work,
an organization that determines our steps and has a strong prejudice against clinical social
work. I met the wise man and expert David Phillips in 2007 at the Chicago Conference.
He received me with distinction, generosity, and spoke about the importance of the clinical
social work in the life of people. I regret from the bottom of my heart for this irreparable
loss to the world of clinical social work, and to his family, which I am sympathetic to in
this deep pain. (I apologize for my English.) Peace to all.
~ Sonia G. M. Seixas
Incredibly sad. What a loss for all.
~ Janice R. Gagerman
I, too, want to express my sadness and shock at David Phillip's passing. I had the opportunity
to have a long conversation with him last year about the many ethical issues that we face in our
work. I had already admired him from the many posts that he put on our list serve, but I came
away from the conversation with an elevated sense of his integrity and generosity. It was one
of those experiences that stayed with me, and was greater than the sum of its parts. As I think
of him now, I realize that although I never met him, who he was has been important to my
professional identity. With condolences to his family, friends and colleagues,
~ Debby Kuppersmith
David embodied for me, the essence of Psychoanalytic Social Work values, ethics, thoughtfulness,
and generosity of spirit. He was inspirational for me, and he will be very missed.
~ Lou Pansulla
I am saddened to hear of David’s passing. He was a strong pillar of our AAPCSW community
and his loss is greatly felt. For the time I worked with him, I knew David to be a vital
advocate of the Society, contributing his time and energy to help build and strengthen it.
My sincere sympathy to his family.
~ Richard J Karpe
So many of us are affected and shocked by his loss. He was a support to close members of
my family and his clarity of thinking about ethics and his generosity benefited all of us in
the field.
~ Simon Feuerman
David’s wisdom and invaluable clarity re: ethical issues was unique. He will be sorely missed.
My condolences to Mary Anne.
~ Sylvia Teitelbaum
I want to express my deepest sympathy and sorrow to everyone who knew and loved David. He was
a guiding light for all of us for decades. His knowledge and experience were invaluable to us
in NJ when we established the NJ Society for Clinical Social Work. You could always count on
David for ethical, legal, and historical information when we needed it. David and his
leadership are a great loss.
~ Judy Logue
As someone who had met David Phillips on only one occasion, I want to add my feelings of
sadness. Through the years I found myself, even when I didn't think I had any time,
reading whatever I saw that was written by him. I found his opinions to always be considered,
wise, and able to support his opinions with a substantive “argument.”
I will greatly miss his wise counsel; I can only try to imagine what his death must
mean to those who actually knew and interacted with him.
~ Aleda Richter-West
Never having met David myself, I saw the qualities described by others in his writings,
and feel that our profession has lost a giant, as professional and person!
Condolences to David's family and to all those colleagues who had the honor of knowing
him personally.
~ Inge Oppenheimer
Thank you all for your messages of support at this difficult time. David held himself to
very high standards of ethical and moral behavior. He had a great deal of personal integrity.
As a husband, he was loyal and trustworthy. In addition, he was incredibly kind, generous and
giving. We were married for 45 years and had what we thought was an unusually happy marriage.
We spoiled each other rotten and we felt so lucky to have each other in our lives.
Thankfully, we told this to each often. Despite the suddenness of his death, nothing
was left unsaid or unresolved between us.
~ Mary Anne Phillips
Although I did not know David, I was very touched by Mary Anne Phillips words about her
husband and life partner. In reading all the wonderful postings about all that he gave
to AAPCSW and beyond, I am glad to know he was so dearly loved, lovingly spoiled rotten,
and left this life a contented man. My condolences.
~ Elizabeth Corpt
I too felt stunned and very sad to receive the news of David Phillips’ sudden death.
I missed seeing him in Durham at the AAPCSW conference because it’s always special to
see him again after knowing him over many years since Clinical Social Work Federation
board meeting days-- when he served as ethics chair and I as committee on law chair
and we shared stimulating discussions about ethical decision-making. I don’t know whether
I just missed seeing him in Durham or whether he actually was not there. In any case,
his death is a premature, sad loss of a remarkably thoughtful clinician, professional leader,
and scholar in our clinical social work profession. I join others in sending condolences and
appreciation to Mary Anne for so kindly sharing her thoughts on her and David’s long and
fulfilling marriage. I recall the pride and love for Mary Anne on David’s face when he
introduced her to me a few years ago at one of the AAPCSW conference dinners. And I
appreciate reading others’ respectful, fond memories of David.
~ Ellen T. Luepker
When I accepted my Lifetime Achievement Award in Durham, NC this past March at the
AAPCSW conference, I publicly thanked David Phillips for his wholehearted, unwavering support,
his caring and his wise council. I still remain shocked and saddened for myself and for our
social work and psychoanalytic community. Such a loss. I met David when the National Study
Group began and we served together on a subcommittee on standards which wrote a position paper
on the Need for the Development of Professional Standards in Psychoanalysis and Psychoanalytic
Psychotherapy which was adopted by the NMCOP. We worked on the Consortium and attended
federation meetings. We wrote a paper and presented it at the NFSCSW, Committee on
Psychoanalysis and other places called “Multiple Perspectives in Psychoanalysis: A Case example.”
Throughout the many years, he was always there as a mentor, colleague and friend.
David made so many contributions to our field of social work psychoanalysis and
psychotherapy, particularly on ethics, issues of insurance and confidentiality etc.
His leadership will continue on. Our community will miss him and I will miss him.
My thoughts are with Mary Anne, his family, friends and clients.
~ Judy Ann Kaplan
I was deeply saddened to learn about the death of Dr. David Philips, a gifted clinician,
ethicist, scholar, and teacher. I was privileged to know him for 35 years as his student,
fellow AAPCSW member, and colleague. In later years, he was a frequent contributor to the
Clinical Social Work Journal, and served as a guest editor for a special issue on Clinical
Social Work and Psychoanalysis, and most recently as co-author with Laura Groshong on
confidentiality and cybertechnology (published online now & in the June 2015 special
issue). While this is likely his last written piece, it is only a tiny part of his multifaceted
legacy. He was a tireless advocate for psychoanalytic social work, always willing to assume
leadership positions in professional organizations and to help colleagues struggling with legal
and ethical concerns. David has consistently served as a beacon for ethical social work practice
and he will be sorely missed by all those whose lives he has touched, myself included.
~ Carol Tosone
