Arthur S. Kunin

Arthur S. Kunin, M.D.

August 11, 1925 - July 16, 2025

On July 16, 2025, Dr. Arthur S. Kunin, aged 99 years, passed away at his home at the Quarry Hill Residence in South Burlington, Vermont. He was born on August 11, 1925 to Lena Perelman Kunin and Elihu Kunin in Brooklyn, New York. His father, a Kosher butcher in Brooklyn, came to the United States from Belarus when he was a young boy. His mother, born in Burlington, Vermont, from a family of Jewish Lithuanian immigrants, grew up in the Old North End neighborhood known at the time as "Little Jerusalem." She taught in a one room school house in Alburg, Vermont, before marrying and moving to Brooklyn. Arthur spent each summer of his childhood in Burlington, staying with his grandparents on Decatur Street. He loved playing with his cousin Norman Marks, and was very close to his Aunt Annie Marks.

Arthur cherished his time in the Boy Scouts, becoming an Eagle Scout. In the Scouts he gained a great love of camping and hiking. He attended City College in Brooklyn in the fall of 1943, the first person in his family to attend college. But his time in college was soon cut short by the war.

Arthur's experiences as a Boy Scout helped prepare him for his service as a combat infantryman in the U.S. Army. After basic training at Fort Benning, he joined the 87th Infantry Division (the Golden Acorn) at Fort Jackson. In October 1944, his regiment sailed to England on the Queen Elizabeth, then converted to a troopship, relying on speed to evade German U-boats. Landing at Le Havre, France in November 1944, he encountered complete devastation. His division was assigned to General Patton's Third Army, and first attacked German positions in the Saar Valley in France in early December. On the night of December 16, 1944, following German counter-attacks, he volunteered for a mission to rescue wounded Americans from the battlefield. As he and his comrades returned, bearing the wounded on litters, Arthur himself was seriously wounded.

He spent more than 6 months recovering from his injuries in hospitals in Oxford, England and Staten Island, New York. He was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart for his service.

Arthur rarely discussed his wartime experiences until the later years of his life, but he was very proud of his military service. He was deeply affected by the friends he made, and the friends he lost in battle. He loved his country and was grateful for the freedoms and opportunities he enjoyed throughout his life. He shared a true kinship with his fellow veterans on the Shelburne Veterans Memorial Committee.

Through the GI bill, Arthur was able to enroll in Columbia University in 1945, graduating in history and economics in 1948.

He then went on to have a distinguished career in medicine, graduating from the UVM College of Medicine in 1953. He completed his Internship and Residency at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital which included a 2 year research fellowship at Boston University School of Medicine, completing residency training in 1957.

Dr. Kunin began his career as an attending physician and researcher at University of Vermont College of Medicine in 1957. Dr. Arthur Kunin married Madeleine May Kunin in 1959, making their home in Burlington, Vermont.

From 1962 to 1963, Arthur completed an additional 2-year research fellowship at The Massachusetts General Hospital. He returned to UVM for the remainder of his career, becoming one of the first full time faculty members at the College of Medicine. His research included calcium metabolism, mitochondria and as the artificial kidney and transplant came into clinical use, practicing clinical nephrology. As a staff physician at the Mary Fletcher Hospital, he was known for the excellence of his medical care, and the deep empathy with which he cared for his patients. He was beloved by his patients and their families. He greatly respected the nurses he worked with. In the 1970s, he volunteered his time in the evenings at the Burlington People's Free Clinic, providing free health care in the Old North End to those who couldn't afford it. He retired in 1992 as a full professor.

In parallel with his career, Arthur played a key role in raising his four children, particularly as his wife Madeleine Kunin entered Vermont politics. He quickly mastered the art of making a meal for his children within minutes of returning home from his work at the hospital. He enthusiastically helped with Madeleine's campaigns, and enjoyed his role as the first "First Husband" of Vermont's first woman governor.

After retiring from the UVM Medical Center in 1992, Arthur became proficient in Russian and served as the on-site director in Petrozavodsk of the Vermont Sister State Program with Karelia in the former Soviet Union. In addition, he later became interim director of the University of Vermont Holocaust studies program.

Arthur maintained a lifelong passion for travel and classical music, exploring ramen shops in Tokyo and noodle houses in Hong Kong while playing and learning violin well into his 90's. He also served as the chair of the Vermont Mozart Festival. He was a lifelong member of the Ohavi Zedek Synagogue, where he also served on the Board. Arthur became an avid runner beginning in his 40s, completing 7 marathons including Boston and New York. He also loved sailing, nordic skiing, reading, and combing through "junk shops."

Arthur absolutely loved life, and made an indelible impression on those who met him.

His family thanks all the nurses and caregivers at The Residence at Quarry Hill and Bayada who provided great comfort to him during his final months.

Arthur Kunin is survived by his loving and dedicated partner Mary Grass, his former wife, Madeleine Kunin, four children, Julia, Peter and wife Lisa, Adam and wife Jane, and Daniel and wife Chantal, eight grandchildren, William and wife Bridget, David, Sara, Samuel, Jacob, Charlotte, Thomas and Vivienne, and his three brothers, Calvin, Lawrence and Jack, and their families.

Donations in memory of Arthur may be made to the Shelburne Veterans Memorial Fund or the Vermont Youth Orchestra Association.