Dr. Herbert M. Lipschutz MD

Herbert M. Lipschutz, MD

1932 – 2026

Herbert M. Lipschutz, MD, devoted husband, father, grandfather, uncle, cousin, friend, physician, writer - and self-proclaimed "lucky guy," passed away peacefully at his home, on January 11, at the age of 93.

Born in Newark NJ to Matilda and Saul Lipschutz in 1932, younger brother to Vivian, Herb's life was unwaveringly focused on his family, taking care of his patients, and doing right by his friends. With Susan ("Shayna"), his bride of sixty years, Herb enjoyed nothing more than the feel of the ocean air on a sailboat. A good sail was best when his son, Josh, was his co-captain; and all was right in the world if daughters Jen and Jess, son-in-law Ted, daughter-in-law Abby, and his grandchildren– Sy, Shelby (and Aaron), Alex, Maddie, Ben, and Lilah– were in his presence. Herb shared with family the lessons of his heroes, including Anna Quindlen, Harry Truman, Jackie Robinson, Arthur Ashe, and Paul Farmer MD. He paid close attention to politics (especially as described by Rachel Maddow), and maintained a lifelong love of great writing, basketball, and tennis.

Herb graduated Hillside High School in 1950, earned an undergraduate degree in English from Rutgers in 1954, and spent a semester at Harvard Law School, before following his true calling to medicine. After service in the US Air Force, he received his medical degree from New York University School of Medicine in 1963, and completed residencies at Bellevue and Beth Israel.

For 37 years, Dr. Lipschutz devoted himself tirelessly to his private medical practice in Warren, New Jersey. In his office and at Raritan Valley, Overlook, and Muhlenberg Hospitals, he cared for his community along with Alan Fine MD, who was the perfect partner for a lifelong friendship forged in the trenches of internal medicine. Over the years, their practice was joined by Mark Marlzberg MD, Doug Ashinsky MD, and Sharon Stoch, MD. Among his colleagues,

Dr. Lipschutz was beloved and respected for his compassion, wisdom, and deep, insightful listening - to his patients, family, friends, and anyone in need of care. A scrapbook curated upon his retirement in 2004 is a testimony to a life of rare impact. He created deep connections which will ripple forward, as the ocean waves that soothed his mind when his world was troubling. Water, salt, and the tincture of time, he felt, were the cure for most things.

Herb considered the practice of medicine a privilege, and he took seriously the responsibility to teach younger physicians how to practice the country doctor way– through stories, as a clinical professor at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and as a willing mentor to pre-med students Jess advised. Herb was honored to become a surrogate grandfather to Edward Saali MD, a doctor from Uganda, practicing in the Czech Republic. Without pressuring anyone to follow in his footsteps, Herb shared his experiences truthfully and generously. He remained open to the idea that no one had all the answers, and he was most interested in asking good questions.

In retirement, Herb found peace and joy in Susan's company and cooking. He often added his own applesauce and mashed potatoes to holiday meals. He was a superfan of everything his children and grandchildren did-on tennis courts, on stage and in the movies; in school, at work, at basketball, baseball, softball and field hockey, and lacrosse games; dance performances, concerts, and swim meets. From the comfort of his big den chair, Herb was a treasured email correspondent to many admirers, an avid reader, a Mets fan, an astute follower of Rutgers and Princeton basketball, a poet for all celebrations, and even a first-time screenplay writer in his eighties. He loved the music of Frank Sinatra and Barbara Streisand, the movies On The Waterfront, Casablanca, On Golden Pond, Moonstruck, Rocky; and he regarded Love Story as the perfect film. "Words matter," he believed. Herb seemed to remember every word spoken to him, every kindness he was offered, and every opportunity he was given, with gratitude, humor, and most of all, love.

Funeral services will be held at The Jewish Center, 435 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ on Wednesday January 14 at 1 PM. The funeral can be live streamed HERE

Burial will follow at B'nai Abraham Memorial Park in Union, NJ.

Donations in memory of Herbert Michael Lipschutz z"l can be sent to The Arnold P. Gold Foundation for humanism in medicine HERE

Funeral arrangements are by Orland's Ewing Memorial Chapel. OrlandsMemorialChapel.com/Herbert-Lipschutz