Society News

It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Peter Buirski, PhD. Peter passed away on Monday, December 26th.

He had been a valued Society member since 1991 and Institute faculty member since 1994. He will be missed.

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Peter Buirski was born February 7, 1944 in New York City. He spent his early life in both New York and Johannesburg. He received his PhD in clinical psychology from Adelphi University in 1969 and immediately joined the faculty at John Jay College of Criminal Justice (City University of New York) where he served as Chairman of the Psychology Department from 1979-1983. Concurrently he completed Psychoanalytic Training at the Postgraduate Center for Mental Health in New York City where he served as Dean from 1983-1988.

In 1991, Peter was recruited by the University of Denver to become the Director of the Graduate School of Professional Psychology. In 1993 he became the first Dean and served in that role until 2012. He was also on faculty of the Denver Institute for Psychoanalysis. He especially enjoyed teaching and supervising and forged many close relationships with students and faculty. Peter taught and lectured both nationally and internationally. Early in his career, Peter studied and wrote about animal behavior. He worked with baboons in Kenya and chimpanzees with Jane Goodall in Gombe. In his private practice, Peter cared deeply for his patients.

As a clinician, his scholarly work has focused on Intersubjective Systems. He published many journal articles and several books and is the co-author of Making Sense Together, which has been translated into other languages.

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While no obituary has been released, we wanted to make you aware of the passing of Fred Mimmack, MD. Dr. Mimmack died on Thursday, November 10, 2022, in his home surrounded by family.

Dr. Mimmack received both his undergraduate and medical education at Stanford University, graduating with his MD in 1957. His internship and psychiatric training were done at the University of Colorado Medical Center followed by serving as Chief of the Mental Health Consultation Service at Fitzsimons Army Hospital from 1961-1963. He worked as a staff psychiatrist at both the Wardenburg Student Health Service at the University of Colorado Boulder and the Colorado Women’s College of Denver through the 60’s and 70’s. As a professor at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Dr. Mimmack’s excellence in teaching earned him numerous awards. He won the Outstanding Medical Clinical Faculty Award (UCSHS) in 1976, the Second Annual Eleanor A. Steele Award for Excellence in Teaching Award in 1983, and the Jay Scully, M.D. Award for Excellence in Teaching in 1993, to name a few.

In 1986, Dr. Mimmack graduated from the Denver Institute for Psychoanalysis. Upon graduation, he joined the Institute Faculty teaching diverse courses such as: theory of dreams, adult development, traumatic overstimulation, the development of gender identity, and psychoanalytic psychotherapy. In 1995, he developed and chaired a Study Group on Psychoanalysis and Homosexuality.

Dr. Mimmack was also a long-time member of the Society. He served as reviewer of the Society Newsletter for many years and organized the Film Series in the early 2000’s. Dr. Mimmack’s salon What the Horse Whisperer Taught the Psychoanalyst was so well received, he was asked back to do several more salons along this same vein. The Society was honored to be a part of Dr. Mimmack’s last film discussion of The Boys of ‘36 in April 2022.

Dr. Jacob Jacobson wrote this about Dr. Mimmack (1997), “I consider him an outstanding psychiatrist and psychoanalyst and a distinguished colleague and teacher who has made noteworthy contributions to psychiatry and to psychiatric education, as well as to the psychoanalytic and broader general communities. He represents well our highest ideals of professional excellence, integrity, and dedication.” Fred Mimmack, MD was an integral part of both the Institute and Society for many years, and he will be dearly missed! 

George L. Mizner MD (92) died peacefully in his Vail home on September 14, 2022 surrounded by his family.

Dr.Mizner was a graduate in the first class of the Denver Institute in the late 60’s. Other members of his class included John Kelly, Bob Emde, David Metcalf and Sam Wagonfeld.

He began life in Old Europe Vienna, not far from the birthplace of psychoanalysis near Berggasse. After fleeing the Nazi occupation, he settled first in England, then in New York. Before settling in Colorado in 1963, he attended Antioch College, Rochester Medical School, did a Yale Pediatric Residency, before switching to the University of Rochester Residency in Psychiatry. From 1961 to 1963 he served two years in airforce service in Bitberg, Germany. There, he discovered that if he did not allow the airforce access to his records, all kinds of people came for therapy, with the certainty of confidentiality.

Dr. Mizner initially practiced psychoanalysis during his academic years at the Colorado Psychiatric Hospital, (now UCHSC) Outpatient Clinic, as well as supervising first year Psychiatric Residents. He was recognized for his enthusiastic teaching methods, and welcoming style to young physicians.

Upon entering private practice, he continued in the psychoanalytic method, and included other treatment modalities for his many patients. He also lead the Colorado Psychiatric Society in many capacities, including President.

Dr. Mizner will be remembered by this colleagues, friends and patients for his intellect, insatiable curiosity, sense of humor, and passion for life’s many gifts.

He is survived by his current wife, Carolyne Smith, daughters Gail and Susan, and three grandchildren. His first wife Joanne predeceased him.

Memorial is scheduled for October 9 in Vail. For details, please email: davidswahl@gmail.com

We are saddened by the death of Stuart Plummer, Ph.D. on December 15, 2021, as reported in the Denver Post on December 21, 2021.

Familiarly known as Stu Plummer, Dr. Plummer received a PhD, in theological studies from Princeton University. In 1960, Stu Plummer created the Department of Pastoral Education and Care at Presbyterian Medical Center in Denver and served in various leadership roles including being a Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Supervisor of CPE students.

Dr. Plummer studied alongside psychoanalytic candidates and received a diploma in Applied Psychoanalytic Studies in 1981 from the Denver Institute for Psychoanalysis.

At Presbyterian, Stu created a psychoanalytic/psychodynamic, role-responsive, non-denominational framework for the work of the chaplaincy students. These students on the front lines of care applied these concepts to their work with injured and dying patients and families in the emergency room and hospital floors.

Dr. Mary Ann Levy whom Dr. Plummer recruited to provide psychoanalytic/psychiatric consultation for the chaplaincy students, recalled her experiences with Stu, his students and the program: “I worked with many chaplains over nearly twenty years in a case discussion group and found their skills exemplary as a result of Stu Plummer and his colleagues. It was an honor to work with him in classes as we discussed complex medical, psychiatric and emotional needs. He left a legacy of many compassionate and competent pastoral counselors and was an impressive person who generated skilled chaplains who understood and utilized psychoanalytic principles where relevant.”

Stu was active in the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE) and served in Regional Director and Interim Executive Director roles. He was awarded the ACPE 2001 Distinguished Service Award for his contributions and leadership as an ACPE Supervisor.

After retiring from chaplaincy training, he had a private practice in Denver. In his spare time, Stu enjoyed reading, listening to music, watching sports, skiing, fishing, hiking with family, playing basketball, squash, and tennis. He loved to sing and will be remembered for his beautiful voice.

Stu was preceded in death by his parents F. Arnold and Phebe S. Plummer and his wife Maxine (Glaz). He is survived by his wife Agnes Bourne; his former wife Sally; his children (with Sally) Sarah (Lisa) Davis, David, and Nancy; his stepdaughter Rachel Walaskay and step-granddaughters Kylie Squires and Sara Squires.

A private graveside service for family is planned for the spring or early summer. In lieu of flowers, consider making a donation to a charity of your choice in his name.

Click here to read the Obituary from Denver Post & Legacy.com

At this time, the Society will be doing meetings and programs by videoconferencing or telephone. This policy will be in affect through the fall. We will reevaluate as data and information is assessed.

It is with deep sadness and sense of loss that we are writing to let you know of the passing of Bill Edwards. 

Dr. Edwards was in private practice since 1987, and gradated from the Institute's Psychodynamic Psychotherapy program in 1996.  Within the Denver Psychoanalytic Society, he held the Secretary position from 2001 to 2003, and has taught several Continuing Education Classes.

Bill enjoyed his career helping others and found his work deeply rewarding.  Outside of work, he volunteered with the Colorado State Parks.

It is with deep sadness that we notify you of the passing of John F. Kelly, M.D, a Society Life member. Dr. Kelly was in the first graduating class of the Denver Institute for Psychoanalysis. Dr. Richard Simons wrote in a reference letter about Dr. Kelly, "Since entering the private practice of psychiatry and psychoanalysis in 1974, Dr. Kelly has given generously of his time and energies and talents to our psychiatric and psychoanalytic communities." He will be dearly missed.