DANIEL ALONSO Obituary
ALONSO--Daniel R., M.D. Daniel R. Alonso, M.D., of Norfolk, Virginia, born on August 31, 1936, died on July 31, 2025. Dr. Alonso was born in Mendoza, Argentina, and graduated from the Universidad Nacional de Cuyo College of Medical Sciences in Mendoza in 1962. In May 1964, he left to pursue a surgical internship at Bellevue Hospital in New York City, and never left, proudly becoming a U.S. citizen in 1975. Dr. Alonso completed his residency in Anatomic Pathology at The New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, and rose to become a full Professor of Pathology, dedicating his research pursuits to the study of heart disease. In that capacity, and later as Senior Associate Dean for Medical Education at Weill-Cornell Medical College, he was a pioneer in the use of computers graphics and problem-based learning in medical education, both now commonplace. He also served as Associate Dean for Admissions. In 2001, Dr. Alonso left New York to become the Founding Dean of Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, establishing the first medical school outside the United States to grant an American degree. Following his retirement in 2009, he was named Dean Emeritus and Professor Emeritus of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Weill-Cornell Medicine. He and his wife (Dr. Powers Peterson) returned to Norfolk in 2010. Dr. Alonso was predeceased by his parents, Francisco Alonso and Manuela Cordoba. He is survived by his beloved wife of 24 years, Dr. Peterson; his devoted children, Daniel R. Alonso (Karen Bergreen), and Jennifer Alonso- Albert; his adoring grandchildren, Chloe Smith, Benjamin Albert, Danny Alonso, and Teddy Alonso; and his two younger brothers, Paco Alonso and Juan Manuel Alonso, and their families. His previous marriage to Dr. Maria Lita Alonso ended in divorce. Dr. Alonso touched the lives of generations of medical students with his incisive mind and warm heart. He loved the Yankees, Argentine soccer, the wines of his native Mendoza, and classical music (Beethoven, Mozart, and Mahler) and opera. In 2025, Cornell Law School established a scholarship in his name for students from South America to study in the United States. The family requests that any charitable donations be made to WHRO Public Media.
Published by New York Times on Aug. 9, 2025.