Dale Richard Meers

Dr. Dale Richard Meers (Age 92)

Dr. Dale Richard Meers passed away on March 22, 2020. A devoted husband and loving father and grandfather, he is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, his children (Sharon, Kira, Erik, Jim, Katie, Kevin), and his grandchildren (Max, Samantha, Aria, Kai, Novella, Rowan).

Born outside Seattle, WA, he lived across the United States and in London before settling in Washington, D.C., where he lived for over 50 years. Dale dedicated his life to helping others through his naval service during World War II and through his career as a social worker and psychoanalyst. Dale earned his B.A. from the University of Washington, his M.S.W. from the University of Minnesota, and his D.S.W. (later renamed Ph.D.) from The Catholic University of America. He spent four years training in child psychoanalysis with his mentor Anna Freud at the Hampstead Clinic, where he was both a candidate and research assistant, followed by eight more years of training in adult psychoanalysis with the Baltimore District of Columbia Institute for Psychoanalysis. Board certified in both child and adult psychoanalysis, Dale was among the first non-medical doctors accepted into the American Psychoanalytic Association. In his 40-year private practice he listened attentively and helped many patients heal through guided self-examination. In addition to his many teaching appointments, Dale authored over 20 papers as well as many book reviews and panel reports. Dale’s best-known papers center on the differential diagnosis of traumatized children, with an emphasis on children from underprivileged backgrounds. Dale’s research and 1973 congressional testimony before Senator Walter Mondale’s sub-committee contributed to protective standards built into congressional day care legislation. Dale was a consulting editor for the Journals of Preventive Psychiatry, Psychoanalytic Inquiry, and Child and Adolescent Social Work and received numerous awards over the course of his career.

In his leisure time Dale enjoyed reading history, gardening, orchestra performances, and a good tennis match. He will be remembered for his lasting contributions to the psychoanalytic community, his strong will, and his deep love for the family he made.