Richard (J.) Mackler

Dr. Richard Mackler died peacefully at his home in Montreal, Canada where he has lived and practiced medicine for about forty-five years as an endocrinologist. Richard grew up in West Hartford Connecticut. He was graduated from the Loomis school, and Harvard University. At Harvard he received many honors, including being one of the Junior Eight, eight students elected to Phi Beta Kappa in their Junior year of college. He was graduated Summa Cum Laude in German Intellectual History, and awarded a Fulbright fellowship to study at the University of Vienna. When he returned to Harvard for graduate studies, he was nominated to be a Junior Fellow. Richard decided that he would rather be a physician who could help many people, rather than a professor who wrote a thesis that perhaps a few people would read. He received his M.D. degree from Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, and graduated with Alpha Omega Alpha honors.Richard moved to Canada, and became a professor in Endocrinology at Montreal General Hospital where he practiced for many years. He was generous with his time, and his money. He funded two complete medical scholarships for students who could not otherwise afford to attend, extended funds to his patients who were in need, was a patron of several art and theater companies, and continued his intellectual pursuits learning Italian in addition to his fluent German and French. Richard was an inspiration to many, and a good friend and benefactor to many others. We will mourn his loss. He leaves a brother Gerald, (Birgitta), a sister Karen, six nieces and nephews, and nine grandnieces and nephews. He will be buried in Connecticut next to his parents, at a graveside burial service. Arrangements are entrusted to Weinstein Mortuary in Hartford.