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02.26.2025
Hedda Bolgar, PhD (1909–2013): Psychologist and Psychoanalyst
Vanessa Luchtan Finkelman, PsyD
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February 26, 2025
Hedda Bolgar, PhD (1909–2013): Psychologist and Psychoanalyst
Authored by: Vanessa Luchtan Finkelman, PsyD
If Hedda Bolgar had a business card, it would read: “Psychoanalyst. Psychotherapist. Mentor. Educator. Supervisor. Social Activist. Feminist. Centenarian. Hostess. Friend.” The typography could be graffiti, spray-painted to represent revolutionary angst and the pursuit of social justice. The design would be delicate with a floral border reminiscent of the gardens at her Brentwood, California abode, which housed her private practice, countless social gatherings, and scholarly seminars and salons. Bolgar was extraordinary – multifaceted, optimistic, progressive, smart, kind, supportive, generous, and beloved. Working until the age of 103, she made an immeasurable impact, enriching the lives of her patients, students, and society at large through her vast efforts to connect psychoanalysis with advocacy.
Born in Zurich, Switzerland, on August 19, 1909, Bolgar spent her childhood in Hungary before moving to Vienna. She was the only child of historian and freedom fighter, Elek Bolgar, and early female journalist and war correspondent, Elza Stern. Given her background, her penchant for activism feels predetermined. Her ninth birthday party was canceled so her parents could join a civil uprising in Hungary; her ensuing protest was met with sarcastic disapproval. With age, Bolgar expressed increasing appreciation for her parents. The principles with which they raised her undoubtedly informed her work and worldview.
As a result, Bolgar always envisioned herself having a career. Though she anticipated journalism, she gravitated to psychology, attending lectures by Freud and graduating with her doctorate from the University of Vienna in 1934. In the mid-1930s, she collaborated with Liselotte Fischer to create the Little World Test, a nonverbal projective measure. Having published anti-Nazi material, Bolgar was forced to flee Vienna the day Hitler invaded Austria in 1938. While her future husband, Herbert Bekker, remained in Austria for two years, she continued her psychoanalytic training and teaching in Chicago. She was the first non-medical graduate of the Chicago Psychoanalytic Institute, and the first woman in the psychology department at the University of Chicago. In 1940, Herbert joined her in the United States, and in 1954, they moved to Los Angeles. They were married for 33 years until Herbert died in 1973.
With a career spanning nearly eight decades, Bolgar touched countless lives and contributed to numerous programs and initiatives that advanced psychoanalytic training and treatment while aligning psychoanalysis with social justice. For almost 20 years, she served as chief psychologist and director of postdoctoral training at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. She helped found and co-found several notable institutions, including the California School of Professional Psychology, the Los Angeles Institute & Society for Psychoanalytic Studies, and Wright Institute Los Angeles (WILA). She once said, “I started a lot of things at 65.” A reminder to all that it is never too late to begin.
Later in life, Bolgar's interests in political activism and psychoanalysis expanded to include aging and feminism. She was interviewed for a documentary titled The Beauty of Aging, which captured her warmth and approachability on film. Her segment shows her 103rd birthday party at home with friends and chocolate cake. Bolgar shared that when asked about her favorite age, her response was always “now.” She stated that she has met each stage of life with curiosity and openness to change, which feels akin to work as a psychologist – a profession she described as “exceedingly exciting.” She referred to aging as allowing her to push boundaries and inspire activism of her colleagues. Elsewhere, she spoke against the blank screen, arguing that an analyst’s personality and life experience inevitably shape and enrich their perception and interpretation. Bolgar appreciated the evolution of psychoanalysis away from dogmatic tenacity and advocated for a life of varied experiences and relationships.
At 95 years old, Bolgar organized her final large project: a three-day conference that bridged psychoanalysis with social justice. In 2011, at 102 years old, she was one of two individuals to receive the “Outstanding Oldest Worker” award in Washington, D.C. At the time, she was still working four days a week and preparing a new course. She maintained that schedule, plus social engagements, until three weeks before her passing on May 13, 2013. During her trip to D.C., she conducted her scheduled sessions by phone, and soon after, she delivered a two-hour lecture without notes at a conference. Bolgar's only complaint about aging was the limitation it imposed on accepting new cases. Her dedication to helping others defined her remarkable career. In her award acceptance speech, she spoke about “dignity and purpose in work” and “grace in aging” – a perfect reflection of the legacy she left behind.
References:
- Bolgar, H. (2002). When the glass is full. Psychoanalytic Inquiry, 22(4), 640-651. https://doi.org/10.1080/07351692209349008
- Chawkins, S. (2013, May 18). Hedda Bolgar dies at 103; renowned psychoanalyst. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-hedda-bolgar-20130519-story.html
- Diamond, M.J. (2011). A centenarian’s retrospective on psychoanalysis: an interview with Hedda Bolgar. In M.J. Diamond & C. Christian (Eds.), The second century of psychoanalysis: Evolving perspectives on therapeutic action (pp. 279-303). Karnac.
- Lopez, S. (2008, September 14). At 99, she’s living life for others. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-sep-14-me-lopez14-story.html
- Lopez, S. (2011, October 2). At 102, therapist is too busy to stop working. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/local/la-xpm-2011-oct-02-la-me-1002-lopez-bolgar-20111002-story.html
- Schur, L., & Morrison, L.T. (2013, July 11). Hedda: The Beauty of Aging. The Beauty of Aging. https://beautyofaging.com/hedda.html
- Sohi, S. (2010). Profile of Hedda Bolgar. In A. Rutherford (Ed.), Psychology’s Feminist Voices Digital Archive. https://feministvoices.com/profiles/hedda-bolgar
- Yasser, A.M. (2014). Hedda Bolgar (1909-2013). American Psychologist, 69(3), 299. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0034924
- Yasser, A.M., & Spivak, A.P. (2023, January 31). Inspirational founder. WILA. https://wila.org/about-us/hedda-bolgar-history/
Vanessa Luchtan Finkelman, PsyD
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