Dr. Maxwell Lear, who started out in the business world by selling papers, is now one of the able physicians of New Haven. He was born in southern Russia, August 2, 1888, a son of Samuel and Fannie (Freedman) Lear, who came to America in 1900. The father engaged in the grocery business in Russia in early life and has followed the same pursuit in New Haven, where he is still active in business at the age of fifty-four years. His wife has reached the age of fifty. They were the parents of ten children, of whom Dr. Lear is the eldest. The others are: Louis E., a mechanic, who was born in Russia; Joseph F. and Israel F., who are druggists of Ansonia; Bernard, who is likewise engaged in the drug business; Ida R.; and Minnie, David, Phillip and Gertrude, all of New Haven. The last four were born in New Haven and the older members of the family are natives of Russia.
     In his boyhood days Dr. Lear attended the public schools and eventually he became a student in the Hillhouse high school. He afterward entered the Yale Medical School in preparation for a professional career and was graduated therefrom with the class of 1911. His first practical experience came to him through a year and a half's service in the New Haven Hospital and thus he gained knowledge and ability that can never be acquired as quickly in any other way as in hospital experience. At the end of that time he entered upon the private practice of his profession, in which he has made steady progress. His knowledge of the scientific principles which underlie his work is comprehensive and exact and he is most careful and painstaking in the diagnosis of his cases, his judgment being seldom if ever at fault.
     On the 8th of October, 1912, Dr. Lear was united in marriage to Miss Ida H. Avrutin, of New Haven, a daughter of Hyman and Rachael Avrutin. Dr. and Mrs. Lear now have one child, Pearl Sylvia, born August 13, 1913.
     Dr. Lear is identified with the Independent Order of B'nai B'rith and holds membership in the Jewish church. In politics he is independent. Along strictly professional lines he is connected with the New Haven, the New Haven County and the Connecticut State Medical Societies and the American Medical Association. He is identified with the Menorah Society and is in hearty sympathy with all the movements which tend to safeguard youth and which act as an inspiring element in guiding the boys of the period. His own course should serve as an example to others, for he started out by selling papers on the streets of the city and later he engaged in teaching school in order to derive the means for his college education. Undeterred by obstacles and difficulties in his path, he has steadily worked his way upward, actuated by a laudable ambition, and he keeps ever before him the highest standards of professional and personal conduct. He is today one of the representative citizens and valued physicians of New Haven.