Dr. Henrietta Leonard, an internationally esteemed researcher in child psychiatry
and beloved wife of Dr. Kenneth Rickler and mother of Alexander and Nathaniel, died
peacefully in the early morning hours of Wednesday, August 15, 2007 surrounded by
loving family and friends. Dr. Leonard’s death at age 53 followed a 4 1/2 year battle with
ovarian cancer. To the end, she remained grateful for the many blessings she had
received in her life.
Henrietta’s chief interest was her family. She was a devoted wife to her husband,
Kenneth Rickler, and a proud and loving mother to her 16-year old twin sons, Alexander
and Nathaniel. She had a warm and loving relationship with her father Louis F. Leonard
of West Hartford CT, brother Edward Leonard also of West Hartford, sisters Ann
Leonard of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Susan Leonard Sullivan of Lovettsville Virginia,
and sister-in-law Phyllis Alexander, their spouses and her nine nephews and nieces.
Henrietta was predeceased by an infant brother, George, and her mother, Elizabeth, who
died in 2003 of ovarian cancer.
Henrietta was born in Hartford, Connecticut on January 6, 1954 and was raised in
West Hartford. She attended the University of Connecticut, obtaining a Bachelor of
Science degree in biology and a Masters degree in biobehavioral science, and then
studied medicine at George Washington University (GWU) School of Medicine in
Washington D.C. After receiving her medical degree in 1982, Henrietta remained at
GWU to complete residency training in general psychiatry and fellowship training in
Child Psychiatry. During that time she met her husband, Kenneth, and they were married
in 1989.
After completing her child psychiatry fellowship, Henrietta was awarded a National
Research Service Corps fellowship at the National Institute of Mental Health and began a
research career focused on investigating the cause and treatment of childhood mental
illnesses, particularly pediatric anxiety disorders. Author of over 100 professional
papers, Henrietta was recognized internationally for her contributions to the field of child
psychiatry, including the discovery with her NIMH colleagues of a unique form of
childhood-onset obsessive compulsive disorder in which symptoms are triggered by
streptococcal infections. In recognition of her many accomplishments, Henrietta was
awarded a tenure-track position at the NIMH in 1994.
In 1995, Henrietta and her family relocated to Providence RI, where she was
named a Professor of Psychiatry and Human Development at Brown University School of
Medicine. Henrietta continued her research efforts there, receiving more than a dozen
grants for investigations of obsessive compulsive disorder, selective mutism, and other
childhood psychiatric disorders. She also was awarded two U.S. patents and several local
and national research prizes, including the “Young Investigator Award” from the
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP). Henrietta was a
dedicated member of the Academy for more than 20 years and was elected an Academy
fellow in 2007.
Henrietta’s contributions to the field of child psychiatry extended far beyond her
own research, as she was deeply committed to the ethical conduct of pediatric research
and served on numerous national committees convened to ensure that the best interests of
the children were met. Henrietta donated much of her time to local and national scientific
review committees and editorial boards, and served as Editor-in-chief of the Child
Psychopharmacology Update. In addition, Henrietta edited two volumes of Child and
Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, and co-authored two trade books: “It’s
Not All In Your Head” and “Is It ‘Just a Phase’?”
Henrietta was Director of Brown’s child psychiatry fellowship training program
and the triple-board residency program in psychiatry-pediatrics-child psychiatry. In that
role, she mentored scores of post-doctoral psychologists, medical students, residents and
fellows; and trained more than 100 child psychiatrists. She was greatly loved and
respected by her trainees who nominated her for numerous mentorship awards; as well as
by her peers who selected her as the department’s “Mentor of the Year” for 2006-2007.
Among many other honors, Henrietta was recognized by the AACAP for her
“Outstanding Leadership and Contributions to the Triple-Board Training Programs”. In
addition, the Rhode Island chapter of AACAP recently established an annual training
award to honor Henrietta’s legacy as an outstanding teacher and mentor.
Henrietta was a passionate family genealogist who was able to trace an ever expanding tree of family members back more than twelve generations. She had an
abiding love for Chebeague Island, Maine, her father’s childhood home, and visited there
every summer of her life. It is fitting that Henrietta was able to return there for her final
days. The funeral will be held 1pm Saturday, August 18, 2007 at the Chebeague United
Methodist Church on Chebeague Island, Maine, where she will be buried. A memorial
service will be held 1pm Tuesday, August 21, 2007 at Temple Beth El, 70 Orchard
Avenue, Providence, RI. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Chebeague
Island Recreation Center, 382 North Road, Chebeague Island, ME 04017 or the Gillette
Center for Gynecologic Oncology (care of Dr. Richard Penson), 55 Fruit St, Yawkey
Center, Boston, Mass. 02114.
Henrietta Leonard will be missed by so many as a clinician, researcher, educator,
mentor, and friend; and above all, as a daughter, sister, wife and mother.