Edgar Haber, Professor at SPH, Medical School, Dies at 65

Edgar Haber, professor of biological sciences at the School of Public Health and professor of medicine at the Medical School, died of multiple myeloma on Oct. 13 at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). He was 65.

Haber was born in Berlin and immigrated to the United States at age 7. He received his bachelor's degree from Columbia College in 1952 and his M.D. from Columbia Medical School in 1956.

Haber's research focused on the role of antibodies produced by the body's immune system to combat foreign invaders, and their adaptation to heart problems.

In 1972, he developed an antibody to digitalis that allows patients to survive overdoses of the heart stimulant, which previously were fatal.

Haber was director of the Division of Biological Sciences at the School of Public Health and of the Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease. Haber was also former chief of cardiology at MGH and former president of Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Research Institute.

Haber built a renowned cardiology department at MGH with a staff of 300 physicians and researchers.

Haber leaves his wife, Carol; three sons, Justin of Newton, Graham of New York, and Eben of Palo Alto, Calif.; his mother, Dorothy Yonkers, N.Y.; and a sister, Ruth Jones of New York.

Memorial donations may be made to: Edgar Haber Research Award, c/o M. Mitchell, Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02115.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 16, at the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 136 Irving St., Cambridge.