Memorial Tribute to Andrea Sabbadini

 

In Praise of Andrea Sabbadini

 

On behalf of the staff of the Freud Museum London, I wish to express our deepest sadness at the passing of Andrea Sabbadini, a much-admired psychoanalyst who served as one of the long-standing members of the Board of Trustees at Maresfield Gardens and who made innumerable contributions to the promotion of mental health.

After having studied psychology in Italy – his native country – Sabbadini eventually moved to England and underwent full training at the Institute of Psycho-Analysis and then qualified as a psychoanalytical practitioner.  A man of great intelligence and of deep creativity, Sabbadini focused not only on his long-standing and well-maintained clinical practice but, also, upon the enhancement and the advancement of the profession through his numerous scholarly and organisational contributions.

Back in 1999, Sabbadini served as the founding editor of a remarkably impressive biannual periodical, Psychoanalysis and History, devoted to the growing field of the history of psychoanalysis.  In my estimation, he undertook magnificent work as the host of this increasingly important journal, having recruited innumerable top-ranking historians as contributors.  Psychoanalysis and History remains in print to this day, fully twenty-six years hence, and would certainly not have done so without Sabbadini’s extraordinary achievement, having hosted the journal until 2004.  Not long thereafter, Sabbadini became the book reviews editor of The International Journal of Psychoanalysis, drawing upon his earlier experience, and, additionally, he served as that periodical’s film reviews editor as well.  We owe Andrea Sabbadini much appreciation for his generosity in having promoted so many of these important publications over so many years.

Not only did Sabbadini serve as an editor of the works of innumerable colleagues but, also, he produced a wide range of papers and books of his own, thus contributing much to the advancement of psychoanalytical scholarship.  Not only did he cultivate a large number of publications but, additionally, he became the director of the memorable European Psychoanalytic Film Festival, hosting many iconic events in which psychoanalytical practitioners shed light on popular culture in quite a pioneering fashion.

In recognition of his many scholarly and cultural accomplishments and his deep intelligence and strong capacity to collaborate, he received not only a Fellowship at the British Psychoanalytical Society but, also, the post of Senior Lecturer at University College London in the University of London.

Thankfully, Andrea Sabbadini became one of the very first Trustees of the Freud Museum (later restyled as the Freud Museum London) and devoted many years of affection to support the growth of Maresfield Gardens.  Having enjoyed the privilege of serving on the Board of Trustees with Sabbadini and having written articles for several of his journals, I can confirm with pleasure that he always proved to be one of the most warm-hearted, facilitative, and collaborative of professional colleagues.

Our heart goes out to Andrea Sabbadini’s family and friends and colleagues and, of course, to his many long-standing analysands, past and present, who benefited hugely from his tremendous devotion of the advancement of mental health.  The Freud Museum London remains very blessed that Sabbadini contributed so generously to the Museum and to the profession.

 

Professor Brett Kahr

Honorary Director of Research and Honorary Fellow

Freud Museum London.