Dr. Alan Howard Gradman
October 1, 2020

DR. ALAN HOWARD GRADMAN:  Beloved husband of Temima Gradman for 50 years, father of Arielle (Jack) Berlin, Gideon (Juliette) Gradman and Jonathan (Alexandra) Gradman, grandfather of Benji and Sammy Berlin, Yuval, Eli and Lev Gradman, and brother of Lisa Lipton and the late Marc Gradman, passed away at his home in Pittsburgh on October 1 from pancreatic cancer. He was 74. Dr. Gradman was born September 26, 1946 in Cincinnati, Ohio, to David and Gertrude Gradman and grew up in Jacksonville, Florida. He attended Duke University as an Angier B. Duke Scholar and received his medical degree from Washington University in St. Louis. He completed his postdoctoral fellowship in cardiology at Stanford University in California. Dr. Gradman spent 13 years on the faculty at Yale University School of Medicine as Associate Professor of Medicine and Chief of Cardiology at the West Haven Veterans Administration Hospital. He and his family came to Pittsburgh in 1990 when he became Chief of Cardiology at The Western Pennsylvania Hospital, where he engaged in research, teaching, and caring for patients for the next 19 years. He also served on the faculty of Temple University Medical School as Professor of Medicine. Dr. Gradman's research in cardiovascular diseases specialized in Hypertension and Heart Failure, and he authored over 130 articles, reviews, and book chapters.  He lectured all over the world, combining his love of teaching with his love of travel and adventure. This passion for teaching extended into his volunteer work, including his decades-long volunteering in India teaching doctors at the Satya Sai Superspecialty Hospital in Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh, India. Outside of medicine, Alan had a broad range of interests, from ancient history to current events. He was a voracious reader and a perpetual student, who took the time to understand topics deeply, often seeking out primary sources and first-hand accounts of historical events to gain insight into the events and issues of today. His family and friends enjoyed his conversations and looked forward to his insights, which will surely be missed. He also loved hiking, especially in the West, which he enjoyed with his sons Gideon and Jonathan and his brother Marc. He had a special fondness for Yosemite National Park, where he went on an annual family hiking trip for over 20 years. Graveside Services and Interment were held at Poale Zedeck Memorial Park Cemetery. Contributions may be made in his name to the Yosemite Conservancy (yosemite.org),  Mekor Habracha / The Center City Synagogue (mekorhabracha.org), and ZOA, 6507 Wilkins Avenue, Suite 102, Pittsburgh, PA 15217. Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc., family owned and operated. www.schugar.com