Boston University School of Social Work Mourns the Loss of Golda Edinburg, SSW ‘46

Boston University School of Social Work (BUSSW) mourns the loss of Golda Edinburg, MSW (SSW ’46), who passed away on February 9 in Florida. Edinburg was 87.

A True Pioneer

While the term “pioneer” is often loosely used, Edinburg was a true trailblazer in the field of social work. Over her entire professional career spanning five decades, Edinburg distinguished herself as a leader in the field of mental health— as a social worker, educator, administrator and community activist.

Edinburg grew up in Massachusetts, received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts, and her master’s of social work from Boston University School of Social Work in 1946. Most recently, she directed the social work department at McLean hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts— a post she held since 1956. While developing the department and the role of social work throughout the Hospital’s programs, Edinburg was guided by the goals of providing quality care and improving the quality of life for the mentally ill and their families. She was a catalyst in the development of a number of programs which have served as models throughout the country.

According to the National Association of Social Workers Foundation, this is the longest period that a social worker directed a social work department in a private psychiatric hospital in the United States. Upon Edinburg’s retirement in 1993, McLean Hospital established The Edinburg Lectureship in her honor.

Before going to McLean, Edinburg worked as a psychiatric social worker in the Bedford VA hospital, as a senior case worker in Beth Israel Hospital and as a supervisor of psychiatric social work in the U.S. Naval Hospital in Chelsea.

From 1971 through 1986, Edinburg volunteered on the Department of Mental Health and Retardation Area Board of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in Waltham, Massachusetts. During this time period, area boards played a pivotal role in the planning and development of community-based systems of care for persons with mental illness and persons with mental retardation. Under her leadership as president, federal funding was secured to establish The Center for Mental Health and Retardation Services, Inc. (at that time, known as the Metropolitan Beaverbrook Mental Health and Retardation Center). After its incorporation in 1977, Edinburg served as a member of The Center’s Board and in both executive officer roles of president and vice president until 1986. In these roles, she provided the vision and leadership that strategically guided The Center from its infancy to a thriving community mental health center. In 2002, the agency was renamed The Edinburg Center.

Throughout her career, Edinburg served on a number of national and state special advisory councils, boards and professional organizations, most notably the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Commission, the National Association of Social Workers and the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill. Her contributions to the field of mental retardation are seen in her service on state advisory councils, area boards and committees, and as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Fernald Center.

She wrote or co-authored a number of articles related both to clinical practice, and to the concepts and principles involved in developing a social work program within a hospital. With her boundless energy, Edinburg contributed to the social work profession in many ways through her leadership. Her faculty appointments included Harvard Medical School, Smith School of Social Work, Boston University School of Social Work and Simmons College School of Social Work.

During her career, Edinburg earned countless accolades for her dedication and service to social work. In addition to being named Boston University School of Social Work Alumnae of the Year, she received the Department of Mental Health Commissioner’s Special Recognition Award, the National Association of Social Work Knee-Wittman Outstanding Achievement in Health/Mental Health Award, the Massachusetts Chapter Lifetime Achievement Award and the NASW Pioneer Award. She has also been honored by the Massachusetts Chapter of NASW, the National Academies of Practice, the National Network of Social Work Managers and the Massachusetts Society for Hospital Social Work Directors.

A Memorial service will be held at the Levine Chapels, 470 Harvard St., Brookline, MA, on Tuesday, March 20, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to The Edinburg Center.

Levine Chapels, Brookline
617-277-8300
www.levinechapel.com

Sources: Edinburg Center, NASW Foundation

Personal Reflections

“Golda was an extraordinary leader in social work.”
Cathy Riessman

“Another social work icon that will be missed— Golda and I developed the first (we think) collaborative field unit at McLean. Golda developed a comprehensive field experience tying it in to class curriculum.”
Dan Carter

“I have positive and admiring thoughts for her and all that she did…I will think of her.”
Lois Levinsky

“As we advance in years, the only certainty is that it will end. The unknown is how. I was introduced to Golda by Wilma. A warm, bright, outspoken, & engaging woman. I enjoyed visiting her on the the Cape, meeting family members and oh what pleasurable company she was at the movies, dinners, & evenings at the symphony. I am deeply saddened.”
Joyce West Stevens, Ph.D.
Professor Emerita
Boston University School of Social Work

“Golda indeed is a legend in the profession. I remember the first time I met her when she was still at McLean’s. I was scared to death! While I had known her for many years, I spent more time with her when Wilma was Dean. She indeed had strong opinions about the profession and BUSSW. She was a force! But a force I enjoyed knowing and a mentor to so many in the field.”
Cassandra Clay
Professor Emerita
Boston University School of Social Work

“Golda was truly larger than life.  My transition to the Boston community was successful because of all the help I received from her. She was my neighbor in Brookline for over ten years. During that time we were part of a symphony group with her cousin, Norman and his wife, Joyce who came over from the Cape to attend symphony about seven times a year.  We had annual tickets each year and always ate at Chef Chang’s before going to Symphony Hall.   Later, I learned that Golda’s niece, Joann Pinkowitz and her husband, Richard had attended Case Western Reserve and we participated in alumni activities together. The quality of my life outside of Boston University was enhanced by knowing Golda and her family members. In more recent years, we were members of NASW Social Work Pioneers together.”
Wilma Peebles-Wilkins
Dean Emerita

“Words cannot adequately express the profound impact that Golda has had on our profession and on the lives and careers of many of us as we entered the field of social work.  She was a force of nature and a presence that could not be ignored.  She was indomitable, fun and generous of her time.  She helped to professionalize social work through licensure and to nurture the career development of scores of social workers. Her impact on the early (yes pioneer) development of community mental health services in the greater Waltham community and at Metropolitan State Hospital has had a lasting impact on the lives of individuals with mental illness. I have and will always treasure every moment with Golda from 1977 as a social work student to the day I became Commissioner of Mental Health to last week when she called to say goodbye. ”
Marylou Sudders, BU SSW 78

To share your memories of Golda, please email Cecilia Hughes.