J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol (2009) 22:73e74

Obituary

Alvin Goldfarb, MD. From the Beginning

Alvin Goldfarb died on November 1, 2008, at theage of 85. Alvin was the past Executive Directorand one of the founding fathers of the North Ameri-can Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology.

His role in the development of the society is morethan an historical one. In the mid 1970s the Interna-tional Society of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecologywas well established. However, the principal USAparticipants, lacking financial aid had never held anInternational meeting in the United States. It was AlvinGoldfarb who gambled and put up the collateral to fundthe first stateside meeting. It took place at the HiltonHotel in Washington, DC. Speakers were invited fromall over the world including the late Sam Yen fromSan Diego, the late Anna McLaren from Great Britain,and the Jones from Norfolk. Fortunately, the meetingwas a resounding success. The success of this meeting

� 2009 North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent GynecologyPublished by Elsevier Inc.

launched the development of the North AmericanSociety for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology inthe USA. If that Washington meeting had failed, nofinancial bailout would have saved the day andpreserved the future.

Except for those involved in the early years, fewmembers of the society are aware of Alvin Gold-farb’s professional parentage. Alvin Goldfarb wasa pupil of Doctors Abraham Rakoff, Karl Paschkis,and Joseph Rupp at Jefferson Medical College duringthe 1950s. His mentors were inspirational scientistswho had a remarkable breadth of interest in endocri-nology and excitement for things biological. Alvinwas a product of these mentors and that remarkableera.

Given this impressive lineage, it is not surprisingthat Alvin Goldfarb joined the unique group of people

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74 Alvin Goldfarb

who came together in the late 1960s and early 1970sto give birth to Clinical Reproductive Endocrinology,as we know it today. Doctor Goldfarb, along withEdward Tyler of Los Angeles, Robert Kistner of Bos-ton, and Robert Greenblatt in Georgia, spearheadedthe birth and development of this important subspe-cialty. In certain ways, this small group of clinicalscientists transformed what was at that time a largelydescriptive and marginal science into a major tool forthe study of human reproduction. The role of AlvinGoldfarb and people like him in setting the pace forscientific change in the reproductive sciences is stillunderappreciated. Doctor Goldfarb helped to createan environment for young people that has served thesociety well and has produced many outstandingscientific innovators in Pediatric and AdolescentGynecology.

In a word, Alvin Goldfarb was a ‘‘galvanizer’’ whoturned people on to the science of reproductive endocri-nology. The type of unique chemistry and interaction

that he inspired cannot be duplicated in any other me-dium or resume. Alvin Goldfarb serves to illustratewhat can be accomplished by scientific rogues of un-usual daring and originality who lead the way, inspireus, and make us proud to be associated with the NorthAmerican Society for Pediatric and AdolescentGynecology.

On a personal level, Alvin and his wife Arlynewere deeply interested in music and the fine arts.The latter were part of the reason that Alvin was teth-ered to Philadelphia. He was an eloquent speaker andhis lectures legendary. We will miss his personality.The mellow and resonant tone of his voice still re-sounds in my ear. It has been a privilege to have beenhis friend and colleague. I hesitate to think where thesociety would be today without him.

Paul G. McDonough, MDEmeritus Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics,

and Physiology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia