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Geoffrey Ahern Obituary
1954 - 2022
Dr. Geoffrey L. Ahern held the Bruce and Lorraine Cumming Endowed Chair in Alzheimer's Research and was a professor of neurology, psychology, and psychiatry, as well as a member of the Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute at The University of Arizona. He was a well-known and highly regarded expert in the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.
He was born in New York City and grew up above a tavern. He received his graduate and medical degrees at Yale University and completed his neurology residency at the Boston University Hospitals. After his residency, Dr. Ahern completed a fellowship in behavioral neurology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School.
Dr. Ahern joined the faculty of The University of Arizona College of Medicine Department of Neurology in 1990 as an assistant professor and was later promoted to associate professor and ultimately professor. As an educator, he was highly involved in the education of medical students, residents, and fellows, and won teaching awards from the Department of Neurology.
In addition to providing care to those with dementia and their families, Dr. Ahern had an active research program aimed at finding treatments for Alzheimer's disease and helped oversee dozens of clinical trials to treat or diagnose Alzheimer's disease. As a clinician, he was regularly recognized by Best Doctors Inc. as one of the "Best Doctors in America." He was loved by his patients and their families for helping them negotiate a terrible diagnosis with grace and humor.
Dr. Ahern was an active member of the National Institutes of Health's Alzheimer's Disease Consortium, which studied the disorder to gain insight into the pathophysiology of and treatments for dementia and was a Fellow of the American Neurological Association.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, April 1, 2022, at 4 PM. It will be streamed on https://arizona.zoom.us/j/85626100519. If you would like to attend in person, please contact the Department of Neurology 520-626-4551 for details.
Gifts in memory of Dr. Ahern can be made through The University of Arizona Foundation (https://uafoundation.org/) to support Neurology Resident Education.
Memories and Condolences
for Geoffrey Ahern
Cathy Clark
March 21, 2025
I still miss you more than ever.I think about you everyday
I was recently given your Endowed Chair that is framed.It is on the fireplace mantle.I am honored to have it.Geoffrey,I miss you so much.You were my very best friend.
Anita
November 5, 2023
As an African American
I was skeptical when I walked into Dr Ahern's office with my 83 y/o father.
I ditto all the wonderful comments about Dr. Ahern. The thing I cherished most was when I thanked him for giving me heads up to the changes I would need to work through with my father and he told me "use lots of love and laughter".
He said "I was your age when I took care of my father, so treating your dad gives me a chance to treat my dad yet again; and you young lady, will do just fine."
The first thing I tell people is how he treated my father as if he were his own father.
The tips Dr Ahern gave me help me everyday on how to react in a loving way and to laugh often.
What a wonderful man Dr. Ahern was.
I can picture his happy reunion with his family.
Anita Smith
Joanne
August 21, 2023
A good guy, a good man, a good friend. Missing our chats, just thinking of you....Joanne
C.C.
August 6, 2023
It has been 1 year, 4months and 23 days since you have been gone. I think about you every single day and miss you more than anyone could possibly know. I miss the daily phone calls . You were and will always be my very best friend. I hope you found Lokie and Stormy. That dog loved you. I talk to
" Vet" every so often. I can see why the two of you were friends.
Things are not the same without you. C.C.
Martin Hall
April 4, 2023
Dr. Ahern was a good, good man. May his memory be as a blessing for his family, friends an colleagues.
Joseph & Carolyn Quigley
August 15, 2022
My wife Carolyn was a patient for 6 years. Every time she came into his office she would start giggling she was so happy to see him. With severe dementia, he still treated her with great respect & love. She was to see him a couple of days after he died. I was so worried because a week later she was bed-ridden & in the hospital for two weeks, with dehydration. Then hospice care took over and died May 19, about two months after Dr. Ahern. I'll always wonder-if she could have seen him one more time! What a great doctor and even better man!! Seeing him was her best medicine ever!!! I love you Dr. Ahern and thank you for everything sir! As a husband (we married at 35 & 38) of 37 years, it was not enough time.
Kenneth Bierman
April 20, 2022
For five years Dr. Ahern treated my wife who died from Alzheimer's in January 2018. He was absolutely wonderful. He helped both her and me deal positively with the awful disease. I loved his sense of humor.
Lon Owen
April 8, 2022
My wife Cecilia was a patient of Dr. Ahern for the past eight years, and is in the advanced stages of Alzheimer's. His diagnosis seven years ago was devastating, but Cecilia and I both agreed that his quick wit and caring , knowledgable, professionalism made it easier to cope with this horrible disease. I'm certain that his treatment for each patient was individualized in accord with his sensitive perception of what was best for each of them, but his sense of humor was a part of that treatment for all. Thank you Dr Ahern for bringing us this far, and I will miss you greatly for the rest of this journey, as will many others.
Larry Eagleman
April 7, 2022
It was an honor and pleasure knowing you over the past half dozen years. Your words / advice provided genuine caring. Hagonee'
Robert and Betty Atwater
April 6, 2022
We offer our condolences to Dr. Ahern's family, friends, and colleagues. Robert actually looked forward to his appointments with Dr. Ahern.
We are saddened and will hold him in our hearts.
CS
April 5, 2022
Dr. Ahern was my mother's neurologist and a colleague. I will remember him most for his intellectual discussions of dementia with me any my mother, who would leave the office with me and ask, "Why were we here?" He was always good for the off color jokes which my mom did not understand either.
He schooled me thoroughly on the detailed reasons why 'Star Trek: Discovery' does not adhere correctly to Star Trek lore.
He was a rare kind of doc, a really warm and caring man. I'm so sad he is gone.
Nora Alabado
April 4, 2022
He will be remembered as a physician who made a difference to his patients. Rest in Peace.
Joanne D´Amico-Orr
April 1, 2022
I was saddened and shocked to hear from a very good friend of Geoffrey´s In Tuscon of his sudden passing.
Reading these tributes to my first cousin lightens the sadness a bit and brings a smile to me heart, as people share their precious memories of Geoffrey and I
read how many lives he touched.
Although we didn´t get to spend most of our adult (30) years together, I have fond memories of our childhood spent together in Pelham, N.Y. We all looked up to our older and only cousin.
So while I didn´t get to know him as a Doctor as well as I wish I had, he dedicated his life "doing good"
I see that he was not only brilliant, but incredibly hard working, devoted to his patients with Alzheimer´s disease, humorous and an overall genuinely awesome human being.
Rest In Peace Cousin. I, and so many others , will surely miss you!
I would also like to thank his awesome friends and colleagues in Tuscon for their support during such sad times.
Jerri Ann Russo Hooper
April 1, 2022
My sincere sympathies to all the life's this special person touched
Pam
April 1, 2022
I was shocked and deeply sad to hear about Geoff´s sudden passing. I have known him since 1985 when he was a first year medical resident. It was evident even then what a great doctor he would be. Very intelligent, kind, diligent and ever patient focused, he was a favorite with the hospital staff as well as the patients.
He was an even better human being ; so very smart but down to earth and often the philosopher. We were friends since meeting and it will be a different world without him. Rest in peace, Geoff and know that you made a difference in many lives. I will miss you.....
John D
April 1, 2022
https://youtu.be/8B6jOUzBKYc
The Malagueña link in my posting does not work. So I´ve tried again here. So, if still not working, you can just copy and paste it.
Or maybe legacy.com here has a way of posting it to make the link work.
Thank you.
John D
April 1, 2022
One quick addition from Jeff´s cousin John.
No rejoicing of Jeff would be complete without touching upon his beautiful playing of Malagueña.
For those of you lucky enough to have heard him play it in person, listening to it now will bring you right back there. I promise.
And for those of you just learning now about Jeff´s musical talents, I hope you enjoy discovering this beautiful way Jeff embraced the world and shared it with others.
This piece here captures this part of Jeff:
https://youtu.be/8B6jOUzBKYc
Leesa Werbe
March 31, 2022
Wow, many good thoughts of Geoff...he had his own signature way. I have great memories that I shared with him that I will always treasure.
May all his expertise mentoring and knowledge continue to live through the many students that had the opportunity to work with him. I am sure he left his immeasurable impression on all he mentored. Remember to share and pass his humor and his knowledge onto future generations. Geoff was a remarkable person in the "Galaxy of Neuroscience"' he was a Superman to many! May his spirit live on.
Anne and Sam Ward
March 31, 2022
Sam knew Geoff from when they were both doing academic medicine (Sam at MCB at the U of A); later, Sam was part of the ADCC study, allegedly a control. But then he became a patient, with Alzheimer's. I was the one who got to do the back and forth banter at our visits; it made the diagnosis and prognosis easier to contemplate because of the humor, sometimes outrageous, that accompanied the MMSE. Not everyone would have understood that humor; certainly Sam didn't always; but it enlightened the visits for me. I was saddened and shocked to open the Tucson paper and learn of the sudden death.
Jennifer Wurster NP
March 31, 2022
I met Dr. Ahern almost 20 years ago. I was a new nurse working on 6E - Ortho/Neuro floor. He was always so funny and so damn smart! I remember he and Dr. Weinand making rounds on Fridays. He let me observe him doing an extensive neuro intake during my NP program. Last time I saw him he was doing an early morning grocery run at Safeway. We had an entertaining conversation. I am glad to have known this brilliant funny man. Rest In Peace Geoff
Kathleen
March 31, 2022
Dr Ahern was my attending when I took the behavioral neurology elective in 1995.
He impressed me with his rapport with patients , fund of knowledge and quirky sense of humor.
Observing the Wada tests was something I'll never forget.
I've referred to him over the years and enjoyed hearing him speak at conferences.
The neurology community has lost a fantastic doc and human being.
John D (first cousin)
March 31, 2022
Jeff was my first cousin (he was 12 years older). His family and mine lived in Pelham and it was always a treat when he pooped by. Unannounced back then, of course because there were no cell phones. I can still see his Buick Skykark in front of our house and him wearing his Levi´s and boots and leather jacket. My siblings and I hung on his every word because as John O said in his beautiful recollection, Jeff was a streetwise philosopher. But he was just so darn smart that I was lucky to understand half of what he said in a given night (my shortcoming, not his). And topics could range from how to get along in our whacky families to how the brain works. He was our Google in the days before the internet. And he loved animals. He once saved our miniature snauzier from a charging Russian wolfhound by fending that beast off with a branch he quickly picked up from the curbside. Boy, could he think on his feet and stay cool under pressure. And he had a beautiful collie named Loki that he adored. We certainly missed him when he moved out west. He was as real and as smart and caring as they come. And anyone who was lucky enough to orbit in his circles I´m sure shares the same joy of having known him. Love ya Jeff, your cousin John
John O
March 30, 2022
I grew up with Jeff . My older brother was one of his best friends. In fact we were Executors for his Moms Will when she passed some 40 years ago.
Let me tell you about Jeff before he became a Doctor from Yale Medical. Jeff´s Pop was a bartender at the Roosevelt Hotel in NY a very smart self educated man, his Mom a teacher. No doubt he came from pretty humble background and I think that always stuck with him in a good way. Despite his genius he was a modest guy with a common touch.
My fondest memory of Jeff was as a very funny street corner philosopher. He hung out with a very eclectic group of blue collar kids who got into their fair share of trouble ...like a 1970s version of the Outsiders. Jeff was always in the thick of it. He played guitar in a rock band, chased girls and he was a blast to hang out with. We had lots of deep worldly conversations with lots of chuckles standing on the corner outside of four corners pizza. I got to tell you even then he had a way of making you feel good about yourself.
Unfortunately you grow up and lose touch. I think one of the last time I saw Jeff was visiting him up at Yale Medical. You just knew he was going to do well and help people with his "smarts" and kindness.
RIP Jeff !
You´ll always be Loved by the gang back at Four Corners
Lila Reed
March 28, 2022
In loving memory of a wonderful person. We will love you and miss you always.
Jordan Snow
March 28, 2022
It was a genuine pleasure working with Dr. Ahern. The office is not the same with out you. Thanks for all the laughs.
Sage Camacho
March 28, 2022
This department will never be the same! We are devastated by this loss! I hope you know how much you meant to all of us Dr. Poodles. Until we meet in the alternate universe.
Gloria Alvillar
March 28, 2022
Dr. Ahern treated me at Banner UMC in August 2021. We found out we had a mutual friend in Bill Feinberg and in the middle of his evaluation she shared with the medical students the value of a sense of humor and friendship. An incredible man, a marvelous human being what an honor to have met him. May he Rest In Peace knowing what a difference he made on earth.
Larry Isaacs, M.D.
March 26, 2022
In loving memory of a wonderful person. We will love you and miss you always.
Elinor Brecher/Jake Jacobs
March 25, 2022
Dr. Ahern was so much more than a superior physician; he was a mensch. We looked forward to appointments like we´d look forward to seeing a treasured friend. He was hilarious, and had us laughing from the first minute to the last. He could be politically incorrect and a mischievous- but always compassionate, kind and attentive. Someone else will
take his place professionally, but no one can replace his humanity. We will miss him terribly.
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