Alexander R. Irvine ’60

Alex was always determined on medicine. Born and raised in greater Los Angeles, he did take time at Beverly Hills High School to excel in football and wrestling. At Princeton, he remained dedicated to both pursuits and was honored at graduation as the leading defensive lineman of the 150-pound football team over four years. Alex joined Quadrangle Club and majored in biology on his way toward medical school.

At Harvard Medical School, he met and married fellow student Florence “Chauncy” Cranston in 1962, and they went on to parallel professions for more than 40 years. Drawn to optical science, Alex pursued his residency in ophthalmology at UC Berkeley along with two fellowships in corneal and retinal studies until 1970. He then served at the Letterman Medical Center, San Francisco, before joining the UC San Francisco hospital staff in 1972. Alex’s clinical expertise brought him wide recognition, while his devotion to teaching a generation of ophthalmology residents and international fellows extended his impact globally.

Dedicated to his work, Alex was equally so to his family, always finding time for hiking, camping, and fishing together. A serious horseback injury in 2008 led to full retirement and more time for all that.

Alex died Sept. 14, 2024. He is survived by Chauncy, their two children, and two grandchildren. Our sympathies to all the family.