Edward James Beattie Jr. ’39
Leading chest surgeon, lung cancer specialist, and medical educator long affiliated with Memorial SloanKettering Cancer Center and Beth Israel Medical Center, Ted died Feb. 27, 1998, at Beth Israel in Manhattan. The cause was malignant melanoma.
From the time he earned his MD at Harvard Medical School in 1943, Ted fought to defeat cancer. He pioneered a multidisciplinary approach to cancer treatment, bringing surgeons, medical oncologists, and radiation oncologists together for patient care. Throughout his career he was an educator -- to his colleagues and staff, to hundreds of international medical graduate students, and above all, to his patients. From 1966-83 he was chief medical officer at SloanKettering. He then moved to the U. of Miami to set up its cancer center. Two years later he was back in NYC to join Beth Israel as chief of thoracic surgery. He became founding director of its Kriser Lung Cancer Center, one of the first in the country to deal exclusively with lung cancer.
We offer our sincere sympathy to Nicole, his wife of 20 years, his son Bruce, brother James, and his grandson as we salute our distinguished old friend in a last farewell.
The Class of 1939
Paw in print
June 2026
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Bruce Beattie k’39
1 Month AgoRemembering My Pioneering Father
As only son and offspring, my father Edward “Ted” James Beattie Jr., Class of 1939, was and still remains a legend and pioneer in thoracic cancer surgery, making breathtaking advances in the last century. Princeton clearly inspired risk taking with clear science thinking that propelled elegantly my father’s focus and dedication through Harvard Medical and well beyond! Few nonalumni children may be heard today speaking out for their parents, especially my father’s generation! That said, despite great opposition from Ted yet full support of his father, I pursued independent paths (non-medical but similar leanings) into environmental hazardous waste site cleanups for 40 years. Princeton, your values, ethics, and demand for character and honesty do transcend to alumni offspring!