Dr. Charles Strahan, Jr., of Kennett Square, the first psychoanalysts to open a practice in Delaware, died on Friday, April 29, 2016.  He was 95 years old.  Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Charles was the son of the late Charles Strahan, Sr. and the late Ethyl Fisher Strahan.

He earned a B.S. degree in Chemistry from Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania in 1942 and then graduated from medical school from the University of Maryland in 1945.  He finished his residency in psychiatry at the U.S. Veterans Hospital in Perry Point, Maryland and completed his graduate work in psychoanalysis at the Baltimore-Washington Psychoanalytic Institute. 

Dr. Strahan opened his office on April 1, 1952 and had a solo practice until August 1997.  He commented shortly thereafter his retirement that he, "loved everyday he worked".  He was a member of the Medical Center of Delaware Psychiatric Department and served as Interim Chairman for two years.  From 1970 until 1980, he was a psychiatric consultant for the Southbridge Medical Activities Center.  Dr. Strahan was one of the founding members of the Delaware Psychiatric Society.  He was awarded a distinguished award of the Delaware Psychiatric Society for outstanding contributions to psychiatry and the certificate of merit from the Southbridge Medical Activities Center, known today as the Henrietta Johnson Medical Center.

Dr. Strahan was the former president of the Delaware Psychiatric Society and a life fellow of the Baltimore-Washington Psychoanalytic Institute, the American Psychiatric Society, the International Psychoanalytic Society and the Medical Society of Delaware.  He also taught at the University of Pennsylvania Medical School.

Aside from Dr. Strahan's medical practice, he had numerous interests throughout his life.  He was a sailor, painter, woodworker, welder, pilot, voracious reader and a grower of orchids.  He taught painting at the Academy of Life Long Learning at the University of Delaware.

Dr. Strahan is survived by his three daughters, Donna K. Strahan of Washington D.C., Christine S. Barker of Wilmington, Delaware and Holly L. Strahan of North Pomfret, Vermont.  Also survived by five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.  His former wife, Jean, the mother of his three girls, preceded him in death in 1981.  He subsequently married Johanne Dickinson in 1983.  She has three children, John Guy Dickinson, Jr. of Oregon, Gregory R. Dickinson of California and Susan Dickinson Beck of Delaware and three granddaughters.

Services will be private.

Memorial donations would be appreciated to The Music School of Delaware, 4101 North Washington Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19802.

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