Donald K. Brief ’54

Donald K. Brief ’54, M.D., passed away November 9, 2022. He grew up in South Orange, New Jersey, and attended Columbia High School. At Dartmouth he graduated cum laude with a degree in chemistry-zoology and was a brother at Pi Lambda Phi. He then attended Harvard Medical School, graduating in 1957. After residencies at Children’s Medical and Peter Brent Brigham hospitals in Boston, Donald became an attending surgeon at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and joined Millburn Surgical Associates. He stayed at Newark Beth for 50-plus years. In 1968 he was drafted to the Vietnam War and became chief of general surgery at the 24th Evacuation Hospital in Long Binh, Vietnam. Donald received the Bronze Star for meritorious service in a combat zone under fire. After the Vietnam War Donald returned to Beth Israel and continued his surgery as well as training a generation of medical students, interns, and residents. Four years after Donald’s wife, Beth, died Donald married Dottie Litwin, a longtime friend. Dottie brought three children and their spouses, six grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren into his life. He continued to be a great supporter of Dartmouth and Harvard. He is survived by Dottie; children Julie ’78, Erik, Janet, and Laura; grandchild Davis ’20; and brother Arnold ’57.