Morton Schwab, 91, psychiatrist in Phila. for more than 50 years

Morton Schwab, 91, a psychiatrist in Philadelphia for more than 50 years, died of heart failure Monday at the Quadrangle in Haverford.

The son of Russian immigrants, Dr. Schwab grew up in Wynnefield and graduated from Overbrook High School. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a medical degree from Temple University.

During World War II, he served in the Army Medical Corps in Europe and was assigned to the 82d Airborne. Dr. Schwab became interested in psychiatry when he treated soldiers suffering from battle fatigue, his son David said. While stationed in Cambridge, England, he discovered the writings of Sigmund Freud.

After his discharge, Dr. Schwab trained at the Philadelphia Psychoanalytic Institute and Society. In 1950, he opened a psychiatric practice in Center City and became a pioneer in the use of psychoanalytic group therapy. He was an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania and was a director of the Philadelphia Psychoanalytic Clinic. For many years, he was a psychiatric consultant to Family Community Services in Philadelphia.

He practiced in Center City until several years ago and then continued to see patients in an office in Haverford until last October, his son said.

Since 1950, Dr. Schwab had been married to Neda Lucker Schwab. He and his wife raised a family in Wynnewood and later lived in Bala Cynwyd.

He kept a sailboat on Martha's Vineyard for years. He was also a passionate tennis player and an amateur poet, his son said.

In addition to his wife and son, Dr. Schwab is survived by a son, Fred; a brother; a sister; and a granddaughter.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. today at Beth David Reform Congregation, 1130 Vaughans Lane, Gladwyne. Burial will be in Haym Salomon Memorial Park, Frazer.

Memorial donations may be made to the Psychoanalytic Center of Philadelphia, Rockland Mansion - East Fairmount Park, 3810 Mount Pleasant Dr., Philadelphia 19121.