Leon Tec: was doctor in Israeli War of Independence. Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com
Leon Tec of Westport, a noted psychiatrist and author of the best selling book, “The Fear of Success,” died today (Jan. 19). He was 93.
Death was due to natural causes, his family said.
His 1976 best-seller, “The Fear of Success,” defined such fear as an unconscious fear that one’s success is not justified and that the person is a fraud. “It’s an unconscious fear of what one consciously considers important and desirable” he said.
“To understand the fear of success, it’s necessary to consider this variable of our personality in connection with two other adjacent variables, the fear of failure and the wish to succeed.”
Born in Baranowicze, Poland on July 1, 1919, he began his medical studies at Stefan Batory Medical School in Vilnius, Lithuania. As the Nazis tightened their hold on Eastern Europe, he escaped to Palestine in 1940 and completed his studies in 1944 at St. Joseph’s University in Beirut, Lebanon.
After serving as a doctor in the Israeli War of Independence, he traveled to New York to study psychiatry at Bellevue Hospital. After his residency, he completed a two-year fellowship in child psychiatry and served on the faculty at Bellevue for six years.
In 1960, he moved to Westport to serve as medical director of the Mid -Fairfield Child Guidance Center. He maintained a thriving private practice until his death.
He and his wife Nechama have sponsored the Leon Tec Showcase for outstanding Young Musicians for more than 25 years, helping and encouraging young high school students.
Leon Tec: supported young musicians. File photo
He is a Life Fellow of several American and foreign psychiatrist associations.
In addition to “The Fear of Success,” he wrote “Targets (1980),” and “Adventure and Destiny (1999)” as well as more than 70 scientific articles in national and international journals.
For many years his columns on parenting appeared in The New York Times and other newspapers, including the Westport News. From 1972 to 1979, he hosted a weekly radio program “Conversations with Dr. Tec.”
He is survived by his wife, Dr. Nechama Tec, and his two children Leora Tec of Lexington, Mass., and Roland Tec of New York and his grandchildren Liam and Rome Gandelsman.
Services will be held at Temple Israel, 14 Coleytown Road, Westport, at 1 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 21.
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The family issued the following obituary:
Dr, Leon Tec, noted Westport psychiatrist and author of the best selling book, The Fear of Success, passed away of natural causes Saturday January 19th, 2013. Dr. Tec was born in Baranowicze, Poland on July 1st, 1919. His medical studies at Stefan Batory Medical School in Vilnius, Lithuania, were cut short by the events of World War II. He fled Europe for Palestine in 1940 and completed his studies in 1944 at St. Joseph’s University in Beirut, Lebanon.
Leon Tec: moved to Westport in 1960. Contributed photo
After serving as a doctor in the Israeli War of Independence, he traveled to New York to study psychiatry at Bellevue Hospital. After his residency, he completed a two year fellowship in Child Psychiatry and served on the faculty at Bellevue for six years thereafter. In 1960 he moved to Westport, Connecticut to serve as Medical Director of the Mid -Fairfield Child Guidance Center. Dr. Tec maintained a thriving private practice until his death. He is a Life Fellow of several American and foreign psychiatrist associations. He is the author of three books, The Fear of Success (1976), Targets (1980) and Adventure and Destiny (1999) as well as more than 70 scientific articles in national and international journals. For many years his columns on parenting appeared in The New York Times and other newspapers, including The Westport News. From 1972 to 1979 he hosted a weekly radio program: Conversations with Dr. Tec.
He is survived by his wife Dr. Nechama Tec and his two children Leora Tec of Lexington, MA and Roland Tec of New York, NY and his grandchildren Liam and Rome Gandelsman. Services will be held at Temple Israel, 14 Coleytown Road, Westport, CT at 1pm on Monday January 21st.
With the death of Leon Tec Westport has lost a remarkable asset, and I have lost a dear friend. During his career he offered so much to so many. Besides being one of the very first child psychiatrists in Westport, he participated in many important community efforts including his remarkable support of the musical efforts our children and young adults.
My wife Janet and I offer our thoughts and our sympathies to his wife Nechama, his son Roland, his Daughter Leora and his grandchildren.
I shall always miss him, and I shall always remember.
Al Beasley