David J. Blackman ’54

Dave died Jan. 26, 2023.

He prepared at Clifton (N.J.) High School, where he participated in student government. He majored in English, joined Cloister Inn, and was active in the Pre-Medical Society, Whig Clio, and the Rifle Club. He also participated in IAA football, basketball, softball, and bowling.

He married Marguerite Andrusin a few days before graduation, earned a medical degree at New York Medical College, and was a general practitioner in West Virginia for a few years. Presciently convinced that medical care would become increasingly specialized and organized in groups financed by prepayment programs, he entered a residency program to become a specialist in internal medicine. During his 36 years in full-time private practice, he served as president of his county medical society, chairman of the department of medicine at a hospital, on the Public Health Council of the New Jersey State Medical Society, and on numerous committees.

In the course of his career, Dave grew concerned about the increasing dominance of the profit motive in medicine at the expense of quality of care. He retired to Florida but took up part-time practice for a while. He enjoyed gardening, walking, music, and reading political biographies.

He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Marguerite; three of his five children; and five grandchildren.