Eugene V. Lipkowitz “Remembrance” submitted to our
65th Anniversary Report by Gene’s wife, Joan Tannebaum Lipkowitz
On September 30, 2023, we lost Gene to primary myelofibrosis, a rare bone marrow cancer. During his five-year battle, Gene showed great determination and strength, retaining his fighting spirit to the end. His long goodbye, while undoubtedly hard on him, was an extraordinary gift to his family, giving us time to say our farewells and prepare – to the extent possible – for life without him.
In his last years, Gene continued to follow current events, enjoy a good Red Sox game, participate in the virtual meet-ups with fellow Class of 1960 members organized by Henry Marcy, and enjoy lunching with the “Harvard Old Timers” (a.k.a. the HOTs), a group of Northern NJ Harvard alumni of a similar vintage. He also took pride in participating in two clinical trials. While he knew his disease was incurable, he wanted to do his part to move medical science forward and to give back with gratitude for the life he had lived.
One of the silver linings of the pandemic and its more flexible work arrangements was that our daughter Elise and son-in-law Etienne were able to have extended visits with Gene and me in NJ during his final years. I continue to appreciate that they reside only a few hours away in Gene’s native Washington, D.C.
Since Gene’s passing, I’ve had the opportunity to engage in self-care, resume friendships that were attenuated during COVID and Eugene’s multiple hospital stays, and do some travel. I’ve joined Elise and Etienne on three trips in the past year to Quebec, where Etienne’s Quebecois family has welcomed me warmly. Last summer, I spent a glorious week with Gene’s sister attending performances of the New York City Ballet in Saratoga. While basically an opera fan, I’m learning to appreciate ballet with Iris who teaches dance history.
When home, I enjoy my leadership as a Lifetime Trustee of Barnert Temple and lay chair of its Lifelong Learning Committee. My interest in teaching and learning has kept me engaged in my small tutoring business, working with high school students to increase their proficiency in French. Gene would have wanted to join you all at your 65th. The sheer quantity of Harvardiana that I have unearthed in our house since his passing is a tribute to how much you all and Harvard meant to him. I am likewise grateful that Gene connected me with so many of you.
(Note: Gene was born on May 11, 1939 in Washington, D.C. After preparing at Coolidge High School in Washington, D.C., Gene received an A.B. magna cum laude, majoring in Economics from Harvard College where he was a member of Kirkland House and the Harvard Class of 1960. In 1963, he received his LL.B. degree from Harvard law School. In his career, Gene focused upon the economic control of business, first as a government lawyer and later in the private sector.)
