Stuart Kornfeld

1936 - 2025

Dr. Stuart Arthur Kornfeld, MD, passed away on Sunday, August 17, 2025 from complications of Parkinson's disease. He was 88. Dr. Kornfeld, the David C. and Betty Farrell Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, was a renowned hematologist who pioneered the field of glycobiology and made significant contributions to physician-scientist training over a distinguished 58-year career.

Dr. Kornfeld was born in St. Louis, Missouri on October 4, 1936 to Max and Ruth Kornfeld. His father was a prominent dentist in St. Louis and taught at Washington University School of Dentistry. He attended University City, Clayton and Ladue public schools where he was a noted athlete, captaining his high school basketball and baseball teams. He graduated from Ladue Horton Watkins High School in 1954, earned his bachelor's degree from Dartmouth College in 1958, and his MD from Washington University (WashU) School of Medicine in 1962. He completed his residency training in internal medicine at what was then Barnes Hospital and continued his training in research at the National Institutes of Health before joining the WashU Medicine faculty in 1966. Dr. Kornfeld was married to Rosalind Hauk Kornfeld, PhD also a professor at WashU Medicine and his close scientific collaborator and partner for 48 years. She died in 2007.

Dr. Kornfeld was a life-long avid St. Louis Cardinals fan with an encyclopedic knowledge of the team extending from the 1930's to the present. A natural athlete, he played tennis and golf for decades. He was an enthusiastic booster of St. Louis and of WashU School of Medicine, extolling their virtues to everyone he met. He was a generous benefactor and patron of St. Louis cultural institutions including the St. Louis Art Museum, Missouri Botanical Garden, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, the Muny Opera and many more.

He is survived by his oldest daughter Katherine Kornfeld, his son Kerry Kornfeld, MD PhD, a professor in developmental biology at WashU Medicine, his daughter-in-law Andrea Wilson, MD, his grandchildren Sarah Lesorogol Shivers (DeVonte), Jennifer Lesorogol Eyen (Joe), Emily Lesorogol, Kalliope Kornfeld, Max Kornfeld and Orion Kornfeld, and two great-grandchildren, Namon Jones and Sterling Shivers, as well as his beloved friend of many years, Elizabeth Loeb. His youngest daughter, Carolyn Kornfeld Lesorogol, PhD, a professor in the Brown School at WashU, predeceased him.

Stuart Kornfeld was an exemplary physician, scientist, colleague, mentor and teacher, as well as a beloved son, brother, husband, father, grandfather and family member. He was universally admired by all who knew him and his loss will be felt for generations to come.