Dr. Milton Portela Marcilio passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 30 at the age of 90.
Loving husband to Elizabeth; father to Alexei and the late Nicholas; grandfather to Valentina and Bruno; and father-in-law to Ingrid Carreres. Dr. Marcilio was a dedicated psychiatrist who spent his career helping people, especially children.
He established the Juvenile Court Clinic in both Montreal and Toronto, providing vital support to young people in need. He developed and pioneered "Group Family Therapy," a groundbreaking approach that revolutionized the field of child psychiatry. Through his Toronto-based private practice, Dr. Marcilio provided a high standard of mental health treatment, leveraging his decades-long experience and leadership roles at various institutions, including Frontenac Youth Services, Lakeshore Psychiatric Hospital, and the Child Guidance Clinic.
Dr. Marcilio was a sought-after expert, contributing to peer-reviewed journals and presenting at conferences worldwide. Notably, he addressed the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2011, sharing his insights on preventing childhood emotional disturbances. His work contributed to the development of the WHO's Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan (2013-2020), a landmark initiative adopted by the 66th World Health Assembly in May 2013.
Dr. Marcilio had a lifelong passion for birds and a love for film, which he enjoyed as a movie critic for a local paper in his youth. He was also known for his wit and unpretentious sense of humor. When not caring for his patients, Dr. Marcilio enjoyed travelling and exploring his love of literature and cinema.
Although he made Canada his home, Brazil always held a special place in his heart, and he remained deeply connected to his roots and culture. Dr. Marcilio was a kind person who made a real difference in the lives of all who knew him, including his patients, colleagues, friends, and family.