Tribute to Carl Bell, M.D.
Abstract
“It is not for us to fathom the inscrutability of nature.” —Winston Churchill
While waiting for the Solomon Carter Fuller Award Lecture to begin at this year’s APA Annual Meeting in San Francisco, Dr. Carl Bell and I started a conversation. He asked me, “How old are you?,” and I replied “I was born in 1820 with Johnnie Walker.” He burst out laughing as I have never seen him do, and he said to me, “You must be old.” So, it was with complete shock when I received a message on August 3 that he had passed away the day before. He had just returned from the National Medical Association conference in Hawaii the previous day.
“Man proposes and God disposes.” Carl was professor emeritus of psychiatry at the University of Illinois at Chicago and president and CEO of the prestigious Community Mental Health Council. He was a community and public health psychiatrist whose clinical, academic, and research activities included disaster relief (Hurricane Katrina), prison reform (National Council of Prisons), and trauma and its sequelae. Carl’s loss is a major blow to all his constituents, including children, minorities, prisoners, trauma victims, and children of alcoholics.
Carl was featured on many radio shows. The discussions frequently ranged from prevention of violence and fetal alcohol syndrome to issues of spirituality. One of his hobbies was martial arts. He is credited to have written more than 400 publications including book chapters and books. An example of his prolific writing is the highly recommended Sanity of Survival: Reflections on Community Mental Health and Wellness. He served on a number of national advisory councils and committees. He was a member of the Violence Against Woman’s Advisory Council; a member of the working group for the Surgeon General’s Report on Mental Health, Culture, Race, and Ethnicity; and a participant in the White House Strategy Session on Children and Responsibility. He was recognized for his contributions to mental health by APA (President’s Commendation on Violence) and the National Medical Association (E.Y. Williams Distinguished Senior Clinical Award).
A private person, Carl had a rather quiet disposition and an exquisite sense of humor. These attributes were sometimes reflected in his outfits—the ordinary and mundane to the flamboyant—which concealed his intellectual strength and prowess. At times he was a single voice amid a cacophony of confusion and disagreement. His opinions were highly considered and often right.
Nevertheless, as John Donne wrote, “Death, be not proud, though some have called thee Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so.” In this instance, there appeared to be no strife or battle. So may his soul rest in peace, and may his family be comforted by his life and achievements in helping so many people and being a good and constant friend. ■
