Remembering Victor De Gruttola
Our community is mourning the loss of Dr. Victor De Gruttola, Professor of Biostatistics, Emeritus, and former chair of the Department of Biostatistics, who passed away on March 18.
For more than 50 years—beginning as a student in 1972—Victor helped shape both the department and the field of biostatistics. He was a pioneering scholar whose work fundamentally advanced the world’s understanding of infectious diseases, particularly HIV/AIDS, and was rooted in a fierce commitment to confronting injustice, protecting the vulnerable, and advocating for those who needed it most.
Victor changed so many lives, including those who worked alongside him. He embodied the values of his work—leading with kindness, empathy, and a calm and gentle presence that made others feel seen and valued. He will be remembered as a generous collaborator and colleague whose career was defined by passion, curiosity, partnership, and unwavering integrity. His impact will endure in the generations of scientists he guided and inspired.
Dean Andrea Baccarelli has shared a full remembrance of Victor’s profound legacy, available to read here.
