Laurie B. Meckler

Laurie Beth Meckler, MD, died on April 7, 2022 in St. James, Long Island, after a lengthy illness. The eldest of three children, she was born on March 17, 1954 in the Bronx, New York, to Morton and Edith Meckler. Her father ran a successful custom manufacturing business in Long Island City. Laurie attended PS 173 in Queens, Ryan Junior High School where her mother taught, and Francis Lewis High School.   She received her BA in Art History from Oberlin College in 1976. While working in art preservation at Guild Hall in East Hampton, NY, Laurie became fascinated with the chemistry involved in the process.  As her interest shifted to the chemistry involved in medicine, she began pre-medical studies. She enrolled in pre-med courses at Hunter College, excelling  in organic chemistry to the extent that she ended up tutoring fellow students in her program.  Laurie studied medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College graduating in 1989. She completed her residency in psychiatry at Yale University in 1993. 

Dr. Meckler was married to neurologist Michael Heublum from 1994 to 2003 and together they had two sons, Harry and Jack. After scaling back professional duties for her young family, she returned to the full time practice of psychiatry. In private practice for over twenty years, she was devoted to her patients, accepted them without regard to finances, and continued her practice into her final weeks. 

Laurie’s love of art, travel, literature continued throughout her life, expanding her impressive circle of friends and building a culturally rich life for her sons. She married John Stanford White in 2008, later settling in St. James. She died  at home surrounded by close friends and family. In addition to her sons and husband, she is survived by brothers Rick and Jeff Meckler, sister-in-law Sandy Meckler, nephew Jason Meckler, niece Leigh Meckler, and grand-niece Geneva. Known to be intellectually gifted, loyal and generous to a fault, possessing a true love of people, Laurie will be forever missed.

A private memorial will take place at a future date. 

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