TOPPING, Linda
Kalamazoo
Surrounded by family and friends, Linda Topping M.D., age 79, died on May 31, 2022 at Bronson Hospital. She had lived in Kalamazoo for 22 years. She was very interested in education. Dr. Topping received her bachelor’s degree cum laude from Barnard College (Columbia University) in New York City. She earned a master’s degree in History from the University of Wisconsin (Madison). Dr. Topping earned her medical degree from the Abraham Lincoln College of Medicine at the University of Illinois Chicago. In her first post-graduate year, she trained in pediatrics at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital at the University of Cincinnati. Dr. Topping then completed a three-year residency in general psychiatry at the University of Chicago. Professionally she was interested in psychotherapy and psychopharmacology. Dr. Topping had special interest in the treatment of chronically mentally ill adults. She practiced psychiatry in Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, and Michigan. Dr. Topping enjoyed reading, gardening, water-skiing (when she was young), and travel. She visited most states of the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii. She also traveled to Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean in the Americas. Dr. Topping visited several countries in Europe, as well as Tanzania, Kenya, Australia, and New Zealand. She is survived by her children, Mara Topping Mittenthal and Levi Topping Mittenthal; her sister, Joan Topping of Troy, MI; her brother, Harry (Susan) Topping of Valencia, CA; two nieces and three nephews; her special friends, Marilyn Mittenthal, D.O. of Kalamazoo, Pam Mattison-Kramer of Portage and Judy Pigg of Portage. Her parents, Harry Topping and Ruth Irwin Topping, preceded her in death, as well as her twin sons, David and Graham Topping O’Brien who died prematurely. A memorial service will be held at Unity of Kalamazoo Church, 1204 Whites Rd., Kalamazoo, MI 49008, on Thursday, June 16, 2022 at 11:00 am. A time of visitation will take place at the church one hour prior to the service, beginning at 10:00 am. Private interment will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, Dr. Topping requests donations to be made to Barnard College, Attn: Development & Alumnae Relations, 3009 Broadway, New York, NY 10027 (Please make your payment out to Barnard College, and include a note or write in the memo line: scholarship in honor of Linda Topping ’64), Unity Church of Kalamazoo, 1204 Whites Rd., Kalamazoo, MI 49008, or the charity of one’s choice.