Dr. Donald K Brief

Born in Newark to Phil and Pauline Brief, Donald grew up in South Orange NJ and attended Columbia High School. While there he met Beth Paula Rosenberg who went on to become his wife of 54 years. He matriculated at Dartmouth College in 1954 and graduated with a Cum Laude degree in chem zo. He then attended Harvard Medical School graduating in 1957. After residencies at Children's Medical and Peter Brent Brigham hospitals in Boston, Donald became an attending surgeon at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and also joined Millburn Surgical Associates. Donald stayed at Newark Beth for 50 plus years, becoming Director of Surgery for more than 20 of those years.

In 1968 he was drafted to the Vietnam War and became Chief of General Surgery at the 24th Evacuation Hospital in Long Binh Vietnam. Donald received the Bronze Star for meritorious service in a combat zone under fire. After the Vietnam War, Donald returned to Beth Israel and continued his surgery as well as training a generation of medical students, interns and residents. Donald also won many professional awards and honors.

Donald's devotion to his family never faltered throughout all those years. He and Beth had four children, Julie, Janet, Eric and Laura who all married wonderful spouses and gave him nine amazing grandchildren and four adorable great grandchildren whom he loved very much. Four years after Donald's beloved wife Beth died after a long battle with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Donald married Dottie Litwin, a long-time friend. Dottie brought three children and their spouses, six grandchildren and six great grandchildren into his life as well. Donald and Dottie were patrons of the NJ Symphony, the Metropolitan Opera, Public Radio, Pillar Care Continuum (formerly CPNJ) and the Foodbank of NJ. And of course Donald continued to be a great supporter of Dartmouth and Harvard Universities.

Charities in lieu of flowers to Frederick Cohen Cancer Center at Beth Israel Hospital in Newark or NJ Golf Association Caddie Scholarship Foundation.