William Stark, Pioneer in Child Psychiatry, age 103

Dr. William Stark died peacefully at the age of 103 at home on February 8, holding the hand of his wife of 74 years.

He was born on July 7, 1919, the son of proud immigrants Martin and Giza Stark. "Will" Stark was the center of their universe and the first language he spoke as a child was Hungarian. He was a graduate of University College, New York (New York University), where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.  He was a 1943 graduate of the University of Louisville School of Medicine, where he was first in his class, elected to Alpha Omega Alpha Honorary Medical Society, and recipient of its coveted Anatomy Prize.

Dr. Stark was a veteran of World War II and served in the U.S.Navy as Chief of Psychiatry at the US Naval Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida. In 1950, Dr. Stark opened his private practice in Washington, DC, becoming only the third Child Psychiatrist in the entire city.  Also that year, he joined the faculty of the George Washington School of Medicine where he would teach until 2006, when he retired as Clinical Professor Emeritus in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences in Pediatrics.

For 60 years, Dr. Stark's practice included outstanding achievements as a lauded international pioneer in the field of Psychoanalysis and Psychiatry for children, adolescents, and adults. He was the first Director of Adolescent Psychiatry at Children's Hospital National Medical Center and collaborated in establishing a certified program for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.  He was a Training and Supervising Analyst in Adult and Child Psychoanalysis at the Washington Psychoanalytic Institute and was a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, serving as an officer from 1973-1979.  He was honored to become the First President of the Washington Society of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and to serve as a Consultant to organizations including the National Institute of Mental Health, the Kingsbury Center, and the Arlington County School of Health.

His gifts were many and, while his career achievements were widely recognized, his life outside his profession was equally remarkable.  He had a zeal for life, his family, and Judaism that was truly extraordinary.  His love for his religion was central to his being with his participation in Adas Israel Congregation services every week in recent years and sharing his passion for the Torah and liturgy with both Rabbis who visited and those who loved him.  His marriage to his wife of more than seven decades, Vivienne Rose Stark, with whom he traveled the world, was a truly exceptional model of love, devotion, and joy to everyone who was blessed to witness them together. He was so very proud of his children: Steven Stark (Sarah Wald); Lisa Stark (Dr. Harvey Rubenstein); and Allison McQuady (Dr. Robert).  And he is survived by his grandchildren: his namesake David William Stodghill; Harrison Stark; and Jackson Stark.  He also adored Pavarotti, theater, museums, classical music, Shakespeare, Manhattans, fine red wine, and chocolate.  Notably, he possessed an exceptionally quick wit and delightful sense of humour even in his final days.  His life benefited so many people from colleagues he embraced, to physicians he trained, to patients he helped, to friends he cared for.  His family cannot help but feel thankful he was blessed with more than a century of vitality, but will miss his bright light terribly.

Shiva will be on Monday and Tuesday evenings from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with prayers at 7:30 p.m. The family requests that masks be worn for all in-person gatherings. All services will be streamed via Zoom. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the charity of your choice or to Adas Israel Congregation.

Charity of Your Choice

Adas Israel Congregation
2850 Quebec St NW, Washington DC 20008