Lifelong student of the mind, and the heart

Leo Madow, 93, of Center City, a neurologist, psychiatrist, and psychoanalyst who wrote books on love, anger, and guilt, died of cardiac complications Monday at Lankenau Hospital in Wynnewood.

Dr. Madow, who had a practice in Center City for the last 10 years, saw patients until two or three months ago, said his wife, Barbara N. Young. He also remained on the staff of the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and was there as recently as March to supervise psychiatry residents, she said.

From 1956 to 1981, Dr. Madow was chairman of the neurology and psychiatry departments at the Medical College of Pennsylvania. For many years, he was a senior consultant at the Institute of Pennsylvania Hospital and was a training and supervising analyst at the Psychoanalytic Center of Philadelphia. He trained generations of clinicians, and his review courses for neurology and his psychoanalytic courses on dreams were especially sought after, said his wife, a former student.

Dr. Madow wrote more than 50 scientific articles and books and three books for lay readers. His 1972 book, Anger: How to Recognize and Cope With It, was especially successful. He was interviewed in newspapers and magazines about the book and appeared on television with Johnny Carson and Merv Griffin.

"Anger is an enormous source of energy," Dr. Madow told a Philadelphia Daily News reporter in 1990. "Because it is energy, you can't destroy it, but you can redirect it."

In 1982, Dr. Madow published Love: How to Understand and Enjoy It, and in 1988, he published Guilt: How to Recognize and Cope With It. He was often interviewed by Darrell Sifford, an Inquirer columnist who died in 1992. Sifford called Dr. Madow "one of the wisest people I know." In an interview about his book on love, Dr. Madow told Sifford that he advised parents not to be afraid to love their children and to "trust your feelings."

Dr. Madow grew up in Cleveland during the Depression. As a young boy, he bartered his beloved clarinet for groceries for his family.

He earned a bachelor's degree from what is now Case Western Reserve University, a master's degree in psychology from Ohio State University, and a medical degree from Case Western. He then completed an internship in neuropsychiatry from Philadelphia General Hospital.

During World War II he served in the Army Medical Corps in Alabama.

After his discharge he completed a fellowship in neuropathology from Thomas Jefferson University, a fellowship in psychiatry at Pennsylvania Hospital, and a research fellowship in neuropsychology from Jefferson.

Dr. Madow was president of the American College of Psychoanalysts from 1989 to 1990. In 1991 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Philadelphia Psychiatric Society. "Despite his prodigious intellect and major contributions, he was actually quite modest," his wife said. "He exuded wisdom, patience, humor, and kindness, which made him a most popular and well-regarded role model."

In addition to his wife of nine years, Dr. Madow is survived by sons Michael and Robert; stepsons Andrew, Christopher, and Timothy Young; and eight grandchildren. His first wife, Jean Weisman Madow, died in 1997.

A funeral will be held at 11 a.m. today at Levine & Son Memorial Chapel, 4737 Street Rd., Trevose. Burial will be in Haym Salomon Memorial Park, Frazer.

Memorial donations may be made to the Philadelphia Psychoanalytic Foundation, Rockland Mansion, East Fairmount Park, 3810 Mount Pleasant Dr., Philadelphia 19121.