It is with great sadness we share the news that Nittaya Kotchabhakdi, our colleague and dear friend of over 40 years, passed away in Bangkok on March 1st.  She leaves behind her husband Naiphinich (Nick), their son, Nicky, and their new daughter-in-law.  To them we offer our deepest sympathy. 

Nittaya’s Colleagues Remember Her

J. Kevin Nugent, Director, the Brazelton Institute: Nittaya was part of our network for over 40 years and while we will remember her as one of the most dedicated professionals we have ever known, it was also her warmth, her energy, her humor, her kindness and her sparkling personality that left an indelible mark on us.  She was the embodiment of the beauty of her native country, so that all of us who spent time with her were touched not only by her gracious unassuming nature and by her delightful sense of humor but also by her passionate commitment to meeting the health needs of children and their families in her beloved Thailand.

Nittaya came to Boston in the 1980s to study at the Harvard School of Public Health.  Drawn by Berry Brazelton’s work with newborns, she was a constant presence with us at the Child Development Unit and in the Newborn Nursery at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital during those years.  I was fortunate to have been able to introduce her to the NBAS and certify her and then along with Joao Gomes Pedro, Hanne Munck, Karin Sternqvist, Fabrizio Ferrari and Dieter Wolke, she became a member of the first cohort of International NBAS trainers at the famous NBAS Trainers meeting in Berlin in 1985.  Nittaya never missed our Trainers meetings from then on - she attended the Brussels meeting in 1995 and established the NBAS Training Center in Bangkok in that same year.  Three years later, she made the long journey from Thailand again to be at the Trainers meeting in Boston and came to Barnstable in 2007, and was with us again at the Harvard Meeting in 2015 – as enthusiastic, joyful, insightful and committed as ever. Her laughter added so much joy and zest to our lives - how could we ever forget her singing duets with Berry on the occasion of the Trainers meetings in Boston and Brussels?

At home in Thailand, Nittaya and her husband Nick founded the National Institute for Child and Family Development in 1998, which I was fortunate to visit and could see first-hand how progressive their professional educational programs were.  Bathed in their warm hospitality, I had the privilege of meeting Nittaya’s parents and it was then I met their son, Nicky, for the first time and joined them in watching traditional Thai Dancing in the countryside.  Not long afterwards, Nittaya and I introduced the NBAS to the Philippine Pediatric Society in Manila, where I observed her in full flow as a brilliant teacher.  Nittaya and her husband Nick wrote a chapter, entitled, “Reaching Out to Rural Communities” in our book, “The Newborn as a Person: Enabling Healthy Infant Development Worldwide”, which provides a fascinating description of her outreach work among the children of rural villagers in the northeastern area of Thailand.

Nittaya Kotchabhakdi represents all that is best in the human condition.  She was a gift to our lives and, in my own case, she brought so much joy to my life and to the lives of my wife, Una, and our children, from the time we first met her.  All of us who knew her – and I think I can confidently include Berry’s voice - undoubtedly feel that we were so very fortunate to have had her as a dear friend and valued colleague for so many years.  It was a privilege to have known her.

Lise Johnson, Associate Director, Brazelton Institute: Dear NBAS/NBO family, One can only be inspired by these reminiscences of Nittaya. Sincere condolences to her family and other loved ones. May our work together be an ongoing tribute to her legacy.

Judith Palfrey, the T. Berry Brazelton Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, former Chief of the Division of General Pediatrics at Boston Children’s Hospital, and President of the American Academy of Pediatrics: Thanks for letting me know. What a leader! 

Nadia Bruschweiler-Stern, Suisse Brazelton Centre, Geneva: Nittaya was a person of “stature”, her presence was strong, smart, benevolent and down to earth.  She had humor and a great laugh, she had a good voice, knew many classic American songs, loved to sing and create the feeling of togetherness.  Memories rush to my mind around Europe, Berry’s house in Hawthorne Street, Barnstable and more. Memories of her and of many of us together working, laughing and sharing experiences. Nittaya had the energy of moving mountains and certainly left a real mark on infant care in her country. We will miss her! All my thoughts and sympathy to her family and close ones.

Shohei Ohgi, Director NBAS and NBO Training, Japan:  Thank you for sending this very sad news. I met Nittaya and her husband Nick several times in Boston and Barnstable. I remember her kindness, warmhearted and genial. Please let me express my deepest sympathy.

Susan Nicolson, Centre for Women’s Mental Health, The Royal Women’s Hospital, Melbourne, and Australia NBO Trainer: I remember well meeting Nittaya in Boston and delighting in her twinkly-eyed playfulness and her inspiring energy for the work.

Joao Gomes-Pedro, Emeritus Professor Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisboa and NBAS Trainer (since 1985):  Thank you for sharing the information about Nittaya’s passing. It was a great shock to all of us - Maria João and I - and all the friends who enjoyed Nittaya’s company for so many years.  It was certainly a shock but we could use her songs, the music and all the scientific challenges Nittaya faced as inspiration in these times.  The bad news crossed with our beliefs in the magic influence which changed our behaviour.  In fact, Nittaya was a Pediatrician, and we should say that, for instance, she is one of the most distinguished Pediatricians I ever known. The first reaction I had was to challenge all of you - particularly the NBAS Trainers – to sing the beautiful songs Nittaya sung from each country, conducted by Berry, just as happened in different places around the world and especially in Barnstable.

Ed Tronick, University Distinguished Professor, Developmental Brain Sciences Program, University of Massachusetts Boston, Research Associate, Harvard Medical School: Marilyn and I are deeply saddened by Nittaya’s passing.  The memory that came immediately to mind when we heard of Nittaya’s passing was on our first visit to Thailand in 1999.  Nittaya was giving us a tour of an empty facility that would become a center for the support of young children and their families. Nick was having a lab there as well.  We cannot remember specifically the nature of the services she was creating at the time—but always it was in service to families.  While touring this sunny building one of us commented to Nittaya how very lyrical the Thai language is and how hearing people speak gave me great pleasure, even though we had no idea what was being said.  Nittaya informed us about the tonal nature of the language and how the same word can have different meanings depending on whether the sound was produced from the back of the throat, mid mouth, or at the tip of the tongue.  She demonstrated several examples.  Not being a person who is very adept at languages we were very impressed by the very nature of how people have managed to make meaning and communicate those meanings through the unique development of a language that arises to suits the sensibilities of a particular people over time.  Nittaya so enjoyed our amazement and curiosity.  And we so enjoyed her laughter and our times with her.  We recall going to her house for dinner and sloshing through a flood.  Opening the door she gave us a big hug and a loud welcome to Thailand and she laughed and laughed. And one piece to add that speaks to her accomplishment and legacy is the remarkable and fabulous group of young (maybe not so young any more) that she trained and mentored.  We had a joyous time with them in a conference in the south.  We loved how everyone brought their children. Following in the tracks of her bicycle and moped when she went out into the villages they have changed pediatrics in Thailand. Our heartfelt condolences to her family, and mentees and friends, We will miss her. All be safe, Marilyn and Ed

Joanna Hawthorne, Former Director, UK Brazelton Center and Master NBAS and NBO Trainer: I remember her enthusiasm, her vision, her wonderful work, and her singing with Berry vividly!  I was lucky enough to visit the Institute for Child and Family Development she founded, when I went to Bangkok with Berry and Josh in 2005.  What an amazing achievement that was.  She took us to her home and we ate wonderful Thai food that she and her husband had made.  Nittaya was such a lovely person, and Thailand has lost a true leader.

Janice Ware, Director, Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Program; Director, Child & Parent Program at Boston Children’s Hospital: What terribly sad news. I did know her and traveled to Bangkok with Elaine LeClaire to work with her and Tom on a neurodevelopmental assessment project with them.  It was a remarkable experience. 

Alexis Reyes, Makati Medical Center, University of the Philippines: To my mentor, friend and inspiration in the field of Developmental Pediatrics, I will miss you my wonderful “sister”. Our thoughts and prayers for your family.

Heidelise Als, Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry,  Harvard Medical School, Director, Neurobehavioral Infant and Child Studies, Boston Children's Hospital: I am so sorry to hear about Nittaya’s death. Life is so precarious. Nittaya once brought me a small glass box from Thailand with a little note with her name inside. I still have the box on my shelf here in my office. I treasure it very much.  We must enjoy all our friends every day; life is fleeting as the pandemic and the death of a loved one teaches us again and again, especially as we become older ourselves.

Gherardo Rapisardi, Neonatologo e Pediatra and Director, Brazelton Centre, Firenze: It's such a sad a shocking news.  I met her few times, I have great memories of a warm, generous, nice and very special person.

Beulah Warren, NBAS Trainer, Sydney, Australia:  She was an impressive person and a beautiful soul.

Constance H. Keefer, NBAS and NBO Master Trainer, Brazelton Institute, Boston Children’s Hospital:  I was terribly saddened to learn of the death of dear Doctor Nittaya Kotchabhakdi.

She embodied kindness and thoughtfulness, truly mindful thoughtfulness. In her actual presence - and even in her communication on paper and electronic – I knew I was cared for, I felt special. I want particularly to remind all of a story she described to me about her work in the south of Thailand where she went herself, in person, to meet and listen to the Imams, Muslim leaders, who had resisted some public health measure Nittaya was instituting all over Thailand. Unfortunately, I cannot find a written copy of what I heard and I cannot remember the exact health issue – but definitely something affecting postpartum mothers and newborns that all the pediatric academies and societies and international organizations believed to be extremely important. It had, however, the potential to offend some Muslim sensibility or sensitivity.

Nittaya went to listen respectfully and to understand their point of view, in a way that was almost impossible for the rest of us to understand. But, she worked her magic, with her respect and caring they came to agreement with her national health policy.  Thank you Kevin, for bringing us together around our love and admiration for Nittaya Kotchabhakdi.

Hanne Munck, NBAS Trainer, Denmark (since 1985):  How sad! And all too early! I remember back in the early eighties when she showed videos from her work in rural areas - at that time she had a small car.  She opened up the small homemade cribs where the newborns and small infants were placed all their woken hours. The cribs were almost closed at the top and  she opened the top of the crib with sticks so the small infants could look out and get in contact with others. After she had done that, in different ways she demonstrated how capable infants were. After that, she invited everyone from the small villages to see the videos from a screen she placed in the back of the car.  In this way she, without any costs - she as a wonderful young pediatrician - fought the high  infant mortality in Thailand at that time.  She was such an inspiration to all of us. And it was wonderful to see her department when we were in Bangkok a year after the tsunami. 

Claire Goldman, NBAS Trainer, Belgium: I keep a nice memory - in shadow - however, of Nittaya.  She seems to have been a very dear person for many of you. With all my thoughts and sympathy to her family and close people of her.

Jayne Singer, NBO Trainer Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School: I am deeply saddened by this news.  Nittaya has always been such a joy to be with. What a light has been dimmed! 

Carmen Rosa Noruna, NBO Trainer, Brazelton Institute and Boston Medical Center Family Preparedness Plan for Immigrant Families: I feel saddened for the loss of  Dr.  Kotchbahakdi. My thoughts are with her family, colleagues, students, mentees and all the babies and families she touched in her life. I send you my condolences too as her dear colleagues and friends.

James Helm, NBAS Trainer since 1989 (University of North Carolina): Thank you Kevin. I am sorry for this loss.  When I met her she was such a happy person, even radiating happiness.

Carme Costas Moragas, NBAS Training, Barcelona, Spain: Thank you for telling us this sad news and at the same time for giving us this summary of the person and the great professional who was our beloved Nittaya. During our stay at the 2005 convention in Bangkok, we were very lucky to see on the ground and experience the work she was doing in one of Bangkok's neighborhoods. The visit to the National Institute for Child and Family Development impressed us both with the work they did and the technological advances they had in caring for children with developmental problems. We were also very lucky to meet her lovely family and live with her the most fun moments (which were many) through which she passed on to all of us the joy of living. Well, both Miquel and I are left with these fond memories and thank you, Kevin, for passing them on to her husband Nick, her son, Nicky and their entire family along with our condolences for this great loss.

Rita Al Minyawi, UK NBAS and NBO Trainer: I did not know Nittaya personally, although I may have met her at the Boston meeting. I do know that she was one of the inspiring legends of the  Brazelton family and would like to pass my condolences to her colleagues and family. 

Roseanne Clark, Professor of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health and Faculty Director, UW Infant, Early Childhood and Family Mental Health Capstone Certificate Program and NBO Trainer: Dear Kevin, Lise and other colleagues and friends of Nittaya, I send my deepest condolences to those of you who were fortunate to know Dr. Kotchbahakdi through her time in the Child Development Unit and her work over the years with the NBAS and to her family and colleagues in Thailand.  I am incredibly inspired reading of her dedication to Berry and his work and her continuation of this through her many contributions to supporting the lives of children and families and training those who support their growth and development in Thailand. Such a beautiful human and a wonderful life's work. May her memory be for a blessing.

Aditi Subramaniam, NBO Trainer, Brazelton Institute: I am so saddened to hear this. I have heard you so often talk so dearly about Dr. Kotchbahakdi. What a beautiful photograph!  My deepest condolences to all of her family, you and our NBO/NBAS community.

Kate Buttenweiser, formerly of the Child Development Unit, Boston Children’s Hospital: Even though I didn't work with her directly, I remember her energetic presence in the CDU during the 1980's.

Alex Harrison, NBO Trainer, Brazelton Institute and Harvard Medical School: I am very sorry for the loss of Nittaya

Anulika Ifezue, NBAS Trainer, UK: So sorry to hear about this great loss to the Brazelton world and to you both as a friend. It is sad to think about the loss and I hope you will find the way to continue to remember her with these lovely memories detailed in your email.   I also hope that the work that Nittaya did will continue to live on to impact the families and colleagues. 

Tasnawat Thomas Sombuntham, Nittaya’s colleague, Ramathibodi Hospital, Bangkok, wrote this letter to Nittaya’s friends reporting her death and describing her illustrious career:

Dear friends & family,

It is with a heavy heart that I must inform you about the death of Nittaya J. Kotchabhakdi, B.Sc., M.D., M.Sc. (MCH), FRCPed, Mahidol University Faculty of Medicine class of 1972 and Harvard School of Public Health class of 1980.  She passed away peacefully in the mid-afternoon of Monday March 1, 2021, at the age of 74, in Bangkok, Thailand, due to a complication arising from pulmonary embolism.

She was born in 1947 in Bangkok to the loving and caring Jirathiyut family.  She graduated B.Sc (Hon) in life sciences and MD (Hon) from the Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand in 1972.  She won a scholarship from the Royal Thai Government to study maternal and child health at Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, USA, where she was also trained in Developmental-Behavioral Pediatric by the late Prof. Terry B. Brazelton, MD, from Child Development Unit at the Boston Children’s Hospital Medical Center.  After receiving her master’s degree, she came back to Thailand to establish the first Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics (“DBP”) Division at Ramathibodi Hospital in Bangkok, where she served for more than 25 years as pediatrician and associate professor in pediatrics.  In 2004, she became the founding chairperson for the committee on DBP fellowship training and certification, under the Royal College of Pediatricians of Thailand. 

In 1998, Nittaya also founded the National Institute for Child and Family Development and later started the Master of Science Program in Human Development in 2002.  Dr. Brazelton and his team also visited to give lectures and conducted workshops in 2005.  Even when she moved back to work at Mahidol University’s medical school after finishing her second term as a full-time director at the National Institute, she continued to serve as graduate program director  and research project director there.  She also served on several national, regional and global policy boards related to family and child development such as UNICEF, AAP, etc.  She was the recipient of numerous lifetime achievement awards and was a pioneer in family and child development health in Thailand and the region.  

Nittaya was a true lover of music, art and poetry. She married her husband, Naiphinich Kotchabhakdi, in 1974 and they had countless memories together, most of which involved lectures, traveling and food.  They were best friends and soulmates in the truest sense. Naiphinich also took excellent care of her in every possible way over the last few years after she suffered from a stroke. She is survived by her husband and their son, Nicky, and their new comer daughter-in-law. 

Per Nittaya’s wishes, her body is being donated to the Faculty of Sciences at Mahidol University for research and educational purposes.  Buddhist funeral rites would be held at Wat Makut Kasatriyaram, Bangkok, for three nights.  Due to environmental concerns, please kindly refrain from sending any wreath.  A charitable fund under her name will be established to support maternal and child health research (the details will be provided as soon as they become available). Your donation in her memory to support her lifelong causes will be greatly appreciated. 

Please drop us a line of your reflection on her splendid and meaningful life to sombuntham@post.harvard.edu so we can incorporate that in her book of memoirs.  Kindly remember her in your prayers too.

A loved one lives forever in the hearts of those who cared,

A loved one lives forever in the memories that were shared.