Obituary: Hilary Slavin

Hilary Slavin passed away in the arms of his family on April 30, 2019, after a four-year illness with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., the son of the late Betty and Louis Slavin, and was also preceded in death by his twin sister Michele. He is survived by his wife of 30 years Maria Pico, daughter and son-in-law Lauren and Wesley Ishee, cousins Fred and Joan Schwartz and two siblings.

Growing up, his passions included the New York Yankees, especially Mickey Mantle, playing stickball and basketball on the streets of Brooklyn, chess, stamp collecting, film, rock music and photography.

Hilary graduated early in 1965 from Wingate High School as part of the New York City schools Special Progress Program.  He went on to attend college with full scholarships and graduate with honors from Brooklyn College with a bachelor’s; Clark University with a master’s; and Florida Tech, with a Doctor of Psychology degree.

During his undergraduate years and at Clark he became active in the anti-war movement as well as the struggle for social justice. He lived and participated in the epicenter of what was hip, whether in New York City, Cambridge, Mass., Berkeley, Calif., or while visiting Ibiza, Spain, where he would later take his bride on their honeymoon. He missed Woodstock backpacking through Europe but got to see his favorite guitarist/musician Jimi Hendrix live twice at Monterey, Calif., and the Fillmore East, N.Y.

Professionally, Dr. Slavin had a 40-year career as both a clinical and neuropsychologist. During his years in Cambridge, he worked for the state as a clinical psychologist before coming in 1981 to Atlanta, where he soon opened a private practice. He was owner and director of Buckhead Psychology Center and Dunwoody Psychology until he retired in 2015.

He was a highly respected member of Georgia Psychological Association, having served as an officer of the American Psychological Association, and the National Academy of Neuropsychology, which he attended annually nationally and internationally. He also conducted forensic evaluations and served as a consultant and expert witness in various high-profile cases including that of the Menéndez brothers and a case against Firestone Tire, which forced a recall.

A service was held May 2, 2019, at Arlington Memorial Park in Sandy Springs. Officiating was Rabbi Bradley Levenberg of Temple Sinai, where the Slavins are members. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Community Assistance Center in Sandy Springs, www.ourcac.org or to the American Brain Foundation, www.americanbrainfoundation.org.