1944
John K. Spitznagel, physician scientist, Chapel Hill, N.C., on Jan. 14, 2026. Spitznagel was born in Peoria, Ill., grew up in Indianapolis and graduated from Shortridge H.S. He earned an M.D. from VP&S in 1946, followed by training at Johns Hopkins Hospital and Barnes-Jewish Hospital and a year as a visiting investigator at Rockefeller University. Spitznagel served in the Army at Walter Reed AMC; the 114th Field Hospital in Kyushu, Japan; and as chief of medicine at the Womack AMC at Fort Bragg. In 1957 he joined the University of North Carolina School of Medicine and later joined Emory University, where he chaired the microbiology and immunology department. An internationally recognized investigator of how white blood cells combat bacterial infections, he was also a cofounder of the Good Samaritan Health and Wellness Center, a charitable clinic in Jasper, Ga. Spitznagel was predeceased by his wife, Anne BC’44, NRS’47, and is survived by five children; 14 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
1950
Donald P. Dallas, cardiologist, The Plains, Va., on Nov. 18, 2025. Dallas was born to Scottish and German immigrants and was the first in his family to attend college. He earned an M.D. from VP&S in 1954 and served in the U.S. Public Health Service. He built a practice on Park Avenue, made house calls and conducted rounds on Christmas mornings wearing a holly bow tie. While in medical school, Dallas married his sixth-grade sweetheart, Dottie Benz. They shared 67 loving years until her death from Alzheimer’s in 2019. As a true Scot, bagpipes brought a tear to Dallas’ eye. Each February, the Macmillan Pipe Band played outside his home for his birthday, even in snow or rain. Dallas is survived by his brother, Ken; children, Diana, Bruce, Linda Dallas Rich (Peter) and Andrew (Kimberly); six grandsons; and four granddogs.
1953
Arnold J. Benton, psychiatrist, Weston, Conn., on March 25, 2026. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1932, Benton was a man of extraordinary intellect and was soft spoken, with a quiet wit. He was an accomplished physician, Army veteran and ceramics artist. He is survived by his wife, Johna; children Daniel (Stephanie March), Janet, Alison and Diana Benton Schechter ’05 (Jason); eight grandchildren; one great-grandson; and niece, Randoll Akselrad (Michael). His daughter Lisa predeceased him in 1963.
Peter N. Carbonara, orthopedic surgeon, Englewood, N.J., on Jan. 7, 2026. He was a proud Navy veteran and Boston University graduate, from which he earned an M.D. He loved dogs, cats, bow ties, opera and his friends and family. Carbonara was predeceased by his wife, Jean McNally, whom he married in Rome in 1960; brother, Frank; and sister, Vita. He is survived by his children, Peter ’83 (Betsy Brevitz), Paul, John and Mary BC’88 (Robert Moses); four grandchildren; sister-in-law, Frances; and cousin, Cornelia Reina.
John J. Giardino, orthopedic surgeon, Buffalo, N.Y., on Jan. 19, 2026. Giardino was predeceased by his wife, Lucille (neé Biondolillo), and brother-in-law, George Maurer. He is survived by his children, John, Susan and Karen Priore (Dennis); nine grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and siblings, Frances Maurer, Gene (Celia) and Catherine.
1954
Elliot Leiter, surgeon, Maui, on Jan. 10, 2026. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Leiter graduated from Stuyvesant H.S. He earned an M.D. from NYU and completed his surgery and urology residency at Johns Hopkins and NYU. Leiter became an attending urologic surgeon at Mount Sinai Medical Center, where he was a frequent contributor to medical journals, a passionate teacher of students and residents, and an associate professor. Leiter later became the director of urology at Beth Israel Medical Center and was the president of the New York section of the American Urologic Association. He co-authored Current Operative Urology, the authoritative text on urologic surgery, in 1984. Leiter was a founding partner of the first physician-owned collaborative outpatient lithotripsy service, Metropolitan Lithotripter. After retiring from full-time medical practice, he conducted several volunteer surgical missions to East Africa.
1956
Jesse A. Blumenthal, physician, New York City, on Feb. 3, 2026. Blumenthal was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., and graduated from VP&S in 1960. After his residency, he served in the Army as a captain and surgeon in Vietnam. Upon returning stateside, he worked at several hospitals in NYC before he joining St. Vincent’s Hospital, where he combined his experience, knowledge, instincts and selflessness, characteristics that would define him as an extraordinary surgeon. Blumenthal became the chief of trauma services, where he treated patients as well as mentored medical students and residents. He oversaw the medical response to the 9/11 attacks, leading with steadiness, clarity and compassion. Blumenthal was predeceased by his brother, Eliott, and sister-in-law, Cornelia. He is survived by his sons, Kevin (Dana Marzullo) and Daniel ’85; two grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Michael I. Cohen, pediatrician, Chappaqua, N.Y., on April 11, 2026. Cohen was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., and earned an M.D. from VP&S in 1960. After completing residency at Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital, he was appointed a captain in the Air Force and assigned to the 40th Bomb Wing-Strategic Air Command. Following military service, Cohen completed a postdoc at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and was appointed the first director of adolescent medicine at Montefiore Einstein. He spent the rest of his career at the hospital, chairing the pediatrics department and stepping in as CEO for two years. By the mid 1990s, Cohen had created a committee to explore the creation of a children’s and teens’ hospital; the doors to the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore opened in September 2001. He is survived by his wife, Nancy; children, Adam, Amy and Meg; and six grandchildren. He was predeceased by his sister, Audrey Cohen Kaiser Raisin.
Robert P. Steinfeld, physician, Lansdale, Pa., on Jan. 20, 2025. Steinfeld is survived by his wife, Phyllis (née Shusman); children, Amy Klein (Stuart), Robin Kalfus (Michael), Peter (DeShawn) and Beth Manin (Bradley); twin brother, Richard ’56 (Barbara); 10 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
1958
Loren Wittner, attorney, Charlottesville, Va., on Jan. 25, 2026. Wittner had fond memories of his time at the College, including his time as manager of the basketball team. He began his legal career in New York City before moving to Chicago and eventually accepting an appointment as the representative of the Secretary of Commerce in the Carter administration. Wittner then shifted his focus to public relations. He worked at Edelman and joined Winston & Strawn as a partner, where he established an in-house public relations department that garnered national recognition. After retiring to Virginia, Wittner enjoyed reading, historical lectures, opera, following the Yankees and giving presentations to his retirement community. He possessed an incredible intellect, wicked sense of humor and enduring love of music and politics. Wittner was divorced from his first wife, Judith (née Ginsberg), who predeceased him; and is survived by his wife, Dianna; daughters, Jennifer (Aaron) and Elizabeth (John); brother, Derek ’65 (Kathryn); and five grandchildren.
civil engineer, Cresskill, N.J., on Oct. 29, 2025. Truumees was born on the island of Saaremaa, Estonia. During WWII, he escaped to Germany via Poland, and eventually arrived in the United States in 1951. He was immediately drafted and sent to Germany. After two years of military service, he was granted U.S. citizenship; he married Imbi Peebo BC’53 in 1954. Truumees attended Columbia on the GI Bill and earned a B.S. in 1959 and M.S. in 1964, both from Columbia Engineering. He worked at M.W. Kellogg, Chemical Construction Corp. and Nabisco, from which he retired in 1993. He then started an engineering consultancy and worked until 2005. Truumees liked to travel and visited more than 60 countries. He also enjoyed gardening and watching sports, especially volleyball. In addition to his wife, Truumees is survived by his children, Sirike Aasmaa BC’82 and Reino ’87; and four grandchildren.
1959
Willard I. Zangwill, professor, Chicago, on Oct. 14, 2025. After graduating from the College, Zangwill joined the Navy and served as a lieutenant junior grade on the USS Waldron 1959–61. He earned a master’s in statistics and a Ph.D. in operations research from Stanford. Zangwill worked at several prominent institutions, including UC Berkeley; the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare; the U.S. Office of Education; and the University of Illinois. He joined the faculty of University of Chicago Booth School of Management in 1978 and taught there until his retirement. Zangwill enjoyed close friendships with several Columbia classmates, with whom he loved to trade intellectual quips and questions when they got together, for more than 50 years. He also was an accomplished piano player and chess player. Zangwill is survived by his wife, Julia; children, Mike (Beth Rogers) and Monica (Rob Markstein); and four grandchildren.
1961
Arthur W. Alexander, human resources professional, Fairfield, Conn., on Jan. 25, 2026. Alexander grew up in a close-knit family in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, N.Y. After graduating from the College, he embarked on a career in human resources. He spent the bulk of his career at Schlumberger as VP of personnel, retiring in 2000 after 27 years with the company. Alexander was appreciated for his integrity and down-to-earth nature. He had a quiet self-assurance, which gave him a healthy ability to laugh at himself, whether about his hairline or his alma mater’s football team. Alexander was predeceased by his wife, Erla Ann Hutchinson.
Andrew J. “Andy” Callegari, applied mathematician and engineering manager, Seattle, on Jan. 19, 2026. Callegari earned a B.S. in 1962 and Ph.D. in 1966, both from Columbia Engineering. He became a professor at NYU in 1967 before joining the faculty at SUNY Purchase in 1977. He left academia in 1980 to join Exxon Research. During 27 years at Exxon and ExxonMobil, Callegari contributed to advances in process modeling, refinery optimization and technology strategy, authored or co-authored more than 35 publications and held multiple patents. Outside of work, he enjoyed learning about history and global affairs, watching sports and classic movies and spending time with his family. Callegari is survived by his wife, Susan; children, Lisa and John; and three grandchildren.
1962
Richard B. Curtis, naval captain and management professional, Springfield, Va., on Nov. 30, 2025. Curtis was active in ROTC, varsity crew and Sigma Nu during his time at the College. He retired from the Navy after 26 years of active duty as a naval aviator, officer and veteran of the Vietnam War. Following retirement, he earned an M.B.A. from Marymount University and worked in various senior management positions with Andrulis Research Corp., Environmental Industry Association and American Trucking Associations. Curtis retired again in 2004 to spend more time doing the things he loved, such as reading, boating, traveling abroad and vacationing with family. He was predeceased by his wife of 61 years, Elizabeth, and is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law and three grandchildren.
1963
Philip S. Adelman, business owner and attorney, Stamford, Conn., on March 27, 2026. Adelman earned an M.B.A. from the Business School in 1965 and performed in the Marching Band for all six of his years as a student. He married Ruth Hachenburg BC’66, NRS’90 in 1965 and began his career at Grey Advertising before becoming the third generation to own and operate Adelman’s Stationery Co. in Union City, N.J. Adelman expanded the business from traditional office supplies into early Apple computers and other electronics; he built a second location as a Hallmark card and gift store before successfully selling the business in 1983. He remained active in Hudson County, N.J., commercial real estate for many years as a landlord, investor and a broker. In 1992, Adelman earned a J.D. from Rutgers at 50; he clerked with prominent local judges and was an attorney in Northern New Jersey for several years. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his sons, Frank (Lori) and Bill; four grandchildren; brother, Stanley (Patricia); and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister, Gloria, and her husband, Stanley Peter.
1964
Joseph H. Ellis, investment analyst, Cornwall, Conn., on Jan. 4, 2026. After graduating from the College, Ellis distinguished himself as a retail investment analyst at Goldman Sachs. He was an early predictor of the success of Macy’s, Gap and Williams Sonoma, and was instrumental in establishing Goldman Sachs’ preeminent global retailing industry franchise. In 1986, he became a general partner. An avid birdwatcher, Ellis inspired and envisioned two research conservation initiatives: The Bird Genoscape Project, a genomic approach to mapping bird populations across the Western Hemisphere, and Audubon’s Migratory Bird Explorer, a digital platform detailing the annual cycles of 458 species of migratory birds. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Barbara BC’64, GSAS’65; children, Jonathan (Jennifer) and Claire (Chad); four grandchildren; and sister, Abby Angell. He was predeceased by his brother, Mark.
1965
Michael J. Friedman, attorney, Detroit, on Aug. 30, 2025. Born in Brooklyn and raised in Columbus, Ohio, Friedman moved to Cleveland in 1970 to become a Teamster and founding member of Teamsters for a Democratic Union. After 14 years of driving a truck and building TDU, Friedman left truck driving and moved to Detroit to share a life with Barbara Harvey, a TDU attorney. He then earned a law degree from Wayne State University and became a partner at Honigman Miller. In 2007 Friedman founded the Center for Community-Based Enterprise with a goal of building a more equitable local economy with worker-owned businesses. He stayed active with C2BE as a member of its Board of Directors and a business adviser until his death.
1967
Martin E. Andrucki, professor, Lewiston, Maine, on Feb. 8, 2026. Andrucki was born in the Bronx and earned a Ph.D. in English from Harvard in 1975. He began teaching at Bates College in 1974, and from 2001 until his retirement in 2021 he was the Charles A. Dana Professor of Theater. He directed plays including
Three Sisters,
The Threepenny Opera,
Hamlet,
Twelfth Night,
Iphigeneia in Aulis and
Alcestis. A Fulbright Award recipient, Andrucki took students to Budapest for courses focused on Central European theater and film. Upon his retirement, the black box theater at Bates was renamed the Martin Andrucki Black Box Theater. Andrucki authored four plays, including
Manny’s War, which was nominated for the New Play Award of the American Theater Critics Association. He was predeceased by his wife, Judy, and is survived by his son, Max ’99.
Brant E. Fries, professor, Ann Arbor, Mich., on Feb. 16, 2026. Fries earned a Ph.D. in operations research from Cornell in 1972. Internationally renowned for pioneering work in long-term care funding and assessment, he co-led the development of the Resource Utilization Groups classification methodology first applied to Medicaid and then to Medicare reimbursement of care provided in U.S. nursing homes. He was a professor emeritus in the Department of Health Management and Policy at the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health, Emeritus Research Professor of Internal Medicine and former chief of health systems research at the Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center at the VA Medical Center in Ann Arbor. Fries was predeceased by his first wife, Marylin. He is survived by his wife, Max; daughters, Kyra, Lorin, Lara and Schuyler; and seven grandchildren.
1970
John R. “Jack” Collins, professor, San Francisco, on Oct. 30, 2025. Collins earned a Ph.D. in comparative literature from Stanford and became a professor at City College of San Francisco in 1980. He was the founding chair of the nation’s first gay and lesbian studies department, established in 1989, and provided resources to hundreds of students at the height of the AIDS epidemic. Collins was predeceased by his partner, Martin Cogan. He is survived by his siblings, Eddie (Tracy), Mike (Michele), Joanne (Ed), Jimmy (Mindy), Kevin (Andi), Patti and Peggy; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and lifelong friends.
1976
Terrence A. Corrigan, attorney, Pinehurst, N.C., on Dec. 17, 2025. Corrigan earned a degree from the Law School in 1981. He joined a prestigious Wall Street law firm and became a partner in 1987, specializing in complex commercial litigations and large corporate bankruptcies. Corrigan also devoted a substantial amount of time to pro bono cases ranging from representing a class of Haitian boat refugees to assisting disabled individuals improperly denied Social Security benefits. He was predeceased by his wife, Leslie Gallmeyer; and sisters Sharon, Anne and Eileen. He is survived by his sister Maureen (Stephen Jochim); and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
1979
Sheldon G. Nussbaum, attorney, Woodbury, N.Y., on April 11, 2026. With more than 40 years of experience as a corporate lawyer, Nussbaum advised public and private companies, investors, nonprofits and family-owned businesses, earning the trust of senior leaders for his legal acumen, steady judgment and practical counsel. He was a generous mentor, a loyal partner and a caring colleague who took the time to listen, teach and support others. Nussbaum is survived by his wife, Wendy; children, Jamie (Aaron) and Jason (Lea); brother, Monte; cousins, Marc and Amy; and two grandchildren.
1983
Theodore “Teddy” Weinberger, columnist, Ra’anana, Israel, on Dec. 16, 2025. Weinberger earned a master’s in English and a Ph.D. in theology from Emory University. He taught religion courses at Florida International University before making aliyah in 1997. One of the many ways Weinberger nurtured those around him was through food: He was a legendary cook, best known for his freshly baked challah. He is survived by his wife, Sarah Ross; and children, Nathan, Rebecca, Ruthie, Ezra and Elie.
1989
Xavier H. Leonard, community technologist, Greenville, N.C., on Jan. 2, 2026. With a commitment to expanding access to tools that connect individuals to opportunities, Leonard worked passionately to strengthen communities, catalyze civic engagement and amplify voices. He chaired the California Broadband Policy Network, advocating for equitable internet access. Leonard is remembered for his abundant ideas, energetic dedication to his craft, contagious laughter and love of life. He brought creativity to the world around him, playing the piano, writing music and creating works at the intersection of art and technology. He is survived by his mother, Janice Leonard-Peace; sister, Rimoini Peace; and niece, India Cannon.
2024
Zoe Huntington Davidson, Brooklyn N.Y., on March 18, 2026. At the College, Huntington Davidson followed her passion for history. Her senior thesis,
“For God and Country Was the Cry”: Jewish Soldiers, Antisemitism, and the U.S. Military in World War II, was inspired by her grandfather’s service in the war. She was co-editor-in-chief of the Columbia Journal of History, managing more than 40 editors to produce a biannual journal of student research papers. Huntington Davidson combined her capacity for leadership with her love of the outdoors during her five seasons with the Appalachian Mountain Club in New Hampshire, where she was in charge of a crew of young people and provided food and shelter for mountain travelers. She had also been admitted to Harvard Law School. Huntington Davidson is survived by her parents, Nestor Davidson LAW’97 and Clare Huntington LAW’96; brother, Sam; boyfriend, Samson Mostashari; and grandmothers, aunts, uncles and cousins.
