Obituary of Harold Merskey

Dr. Harold Merskey, 1929-2024
Professor Emeritus, Department of Psychiatry, Western University, London Ontario

Harold Merskey, devoted husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and great-uncle, died peacefully in London Ontario, on May 15, 2024. Survived by his wife, Susan; children Helen Kaymer (Andrew), Ruth, Alan (Kat Balpataky); grandchildren Linnet Farshi-Kaymer (Tom), Elana Kaymer, (Simon Zeffertt), Madeleine, Owen and Griffin Merskey; nephews Philip Young (Sylvia), Joseph Young (Rachel Goldstone) and niece Sarah Krosner (Gadi). Predeceased by his beloved parents Sophie and Harry Merskey and siblings Donald Mercer (Maureen) and Fay Young (Leo). Harold will be missed by family, friends and colleagues around the world.

For nearly 60 years, Harold was an exemplary psychiatrist and pain management specialist. He was a founding member of the International Association for the Study of Pain, the Canadian Pain Society and the Founding Editor-in-Chief of Pain Research and Management. His commitment to patient care and scientific research advanced the study and treatment for pain, and also our understanding of dementia. He was proud to be able to help combat the abuses of psychiatry and speak out on behalf of political dissidents trapped in the former Soviet Union (1960-1980s).

Author of more than a dozen volumes, and 400 publications, Harold was a prodigious writer, a fine teacher, a mentor and colleague to friends around the world and across several generations. People reached out to him regularly for advice, support, and insight into therapeutic and ethical matters. They knew they could rely on his discretion, his wisdom, and his compassion.

Harold died aged 95, of vascular dementia. Continuing a lifelong commitment, he has made one last contribution to science, donating his brain and spinal cord tissue to the London Brain and Biobank to support further research into neurodegenerative dementias. Our family is deeply grateful for the care Harold received from friends in the community, and latterly, to the team at High View Residences who looked after him so gently for nearly three years.

The funeral service will be held on Friday May 17, 11:30 a.m., at Congregation Or Shalom, 534 Huron Street, London, Ontario Canada N5Y 4J5. Shiva Visitation will be on Sunday May 19 at 300 North Centre Road, London, Ontario from 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., with brief prayers at 2:15.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to either https://www.londonbrainandbiobank.ca/ using the following link: https://lhsf.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donate.event&eventID=654 or to the Rabbi's Discretionary Fund at Congregation Or Shalom https://www.orshalomlondon.org/donate/