Raphael Poritsky ’51

Raphael Poritsky ’51, Ph.D.—a true renaissance man whose varied interests and activities spanned college teaching, medical illustration and authorship of five textbooks, as well as recognition as a talented pianist, pastel artist and gifted storyteller—died in Hudson, Ohio, on August 19, 2013. Ray came to Dartmouth from Schenectady, New York. As an undergraduate he majored in music and was a member of the freshman football and track teams. He described the highlight of his college experience as informal drawing and painting sessions with Paul Sample, noted watercolorist and artist in residence. Following service as a corporal in the U.S. Army in Korea Ray went on to earn a master’s in zoology at Cornell University and a doctorate in anatomy at Case Western Reserve University. He taught human anatomy at Kent State University. In 1975 he took on concurrent positions as an associate professor of anatomy at Case Western Reserve and teacher of medical illustration at the Cleveland Institute of Art. He retired in 1995. Ray was honored in 1984 with the Kaiser Permanente Award for excellence in pre-clinical teaching. He was also inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. Ray never lost his love of the fine arts. His pastel drawings of landscapes and still life have been displayed in several exhibits and galleries. He is survived by three children, three grandchildren and brother Bernard ’56. His wife, Connie, died in 2011.