Dr. Jean M. Harder
Dr. Jean M. Harder, a former Ridgefield therapist, died on July 23, 2016, in Willow Valley, Pa.
Dr. Harder was born March 21, 1925, in Milford, CT, a daughter of Albert J. Harder and Marion A. Gebhardt. At an early age she joined the Dominican Sisters of St. Mary of the Springs in Columbus, Ohio, and remained in the community for 14 years.
She received her M.A. and Ed.D. at Columbia University in New York City, and in 1977 earned her Postdoctoral Certificate in Psychotherapy. She was a licensed psychologist in New York, Connecticut and California, as well as a practicing psychoanalyst. Dr. Harder specialized in Personality Disorders, and in 1992 she was awarded the Diplomate by the American Board of Professional Psychology, for excellence in therapy and psychological evaluation.
Dr. Jean Harder maintained a private practice in Ridgefield for many years and was involved in local politics. She was a founding member of the Ridgefield Youth Commission. Dr. Harder retired from her practice in October 1992, saying of her patients, “It’s hard to leave them…I think the world of them.” She moved to California, continued her practice part time in San Francisco, but returned to Connecticut to be closer to family.
She moved to California, continued her practice part time in San Francisco, but returned to Connecticut to be closer to family. Dr. Harder resided at Heritage Village, Southbury, where she was a parishioner of Sacred Heart Church. She later moved to Willow Valley, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Throughout her life, Jean Harder was an accomplished therapist, dedicated to improving lives.
She was predeceased by her beloved twin sister, Joan Harder King of Heritage Village, and her brother, John F. Harder of New Haven. She is survived by her sisters Cecily Kikukawa of Molokai, Hawaii, and Monica H. Kelly of Palm City, Florida, many nieces and nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews and friends.
There are no calling hours.
A Mass of Christian celebrated by Fr. Justin Raj, Parochial Vicar, will take place at 10:30 a.m., Monday, August 1st at St. Elizabeth Seton Church, 520 Ridgebury Rd., Ridgefield.
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