REMEMBERING DAVID COFFEY

By J. Zeb Little MD, PhD

I first met David in 2005 when I joined the Psychiatric Clinical Faculty Association’s Executive Board. David impressed me with his outspokenness, dynamic personality and nearly limitless energy. Over the next seven years, I came to appreciate David’s tireless advocacy for residents and fellows, and his self-effacing but driven personality. Unknown to most of his professional associates, David was a polymath, with expertise in such diverse areas as music, computer programming, foreign film and photography.

Of all his interests, he devoted himself most to the field of Psychiatry. His activities and accomplishments in this area are broad and deep. In addition to a large and successful private practice, he authored many child psychiatry articles, and spoke for organizations such as the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill. He dedicated himself to psychoanalytic training at the New Center for Psychoanalysis where he held the position of Treasurer. He also chaired and co-chaired a number of successful courses including an ongoing course on Psychoanalysis and Film.

David was intimately involved in our UCLA Psychiatric Clinical Faculty Association, literally from “top to bottom.” He tirelessly volunteered to help in every facet of the organization. He served as our Treasurer and organized a successful Distinguished Psychiatrist Seminar Series. He was recently elected to serve as our next President; we will sorely miss his passion and expertise.

David was born on April 8th 1959 and passed away on January 17th 2012. He is survived by his daughter Olivia, parents Dr. Charles and Barbara Coffey, sisters Jennifer and Sybil, and a large extended family. He also leaves behind his loving companion Judy Gitterman and many close friends and colleagues whose lives are the more impoverished because of his passing.