Reuben Cherniack

Reuben M. Cherniack, 92, Emeritus Professor in the Pulmonary Division of the Department of Medicine at National Jewish Medical and Research Center and Distinguished Professor of Medicine at the University of Colorado, died peacefully on July 14, 2016 at Sunrise Senior Living, Denver, CO where he resided for the last 2 1/2 years. Beloved husband of 62 years to the late Edy Cherniack, he is survived by his daughter Karen Cherniack, his son Mark Cherniack and his wife Gail Pruitt, his son Mitch Cherniack and his wife Karen Smith, his sister-in-law, Inge Gaspard and numerous nieces and nephews. Dr. Cherniack obtained his MD and MSc degrees from the University of Manitoba and completed fellowships in medicine at Columbia and Johns Hopkins Universities. He is the former chair of the Department of Medicine and Director of the Pulmonary Physiology Unit at National Jewish and vice-chair of Medicine at the University of Colorado. Reuben was the epitome of a 'fighter'. He fought to defend himself as a child from bigoted bullies in his hometown of Winnipeg. He fought to become one of the few Jewish acceptances to medical school in the time of quotas in the 1940's. He fought to establish the Department of Medicine at the University of Manitoba as one of the preeminent institutions in pulmonary physiology as Department Head during the 1970s. He fought for his vision of a purely scientific, nationally ranked research institution as Chair of the Department of Medicine of the National Jewish Hospital Research Center in Denver from 1978-1984, and as a faculty member in the years that followed. And in the last 10 years of his life, he fought to maintain his dignity, sartorial elegance, sense of humor and compassion in his brave fight with Parkinson's Disease. Perhaps because he had to fight to achieve as much as he did, Reuben set high expectations for himself and those around him. He inspired respect and admiration but could also come across as intimidating to those who looked up to him. But as one got to know Reuben, he revealed his tender, compassionate, self-deprecating and undeniably charming side that became more and more evident in his later years. Reuben's life had undeniable impact - as revealed not only by his many medals and awards, but by the many tributes paid to him by his peers and former fellows, and by the admiration and love of his family. Reuben will be buried alongside his wife Edy at a private service.