Michael Gurish

Michael F. Gurish, Ph.D., of Dedham, research immunologist, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School died May 31, 2018, in a sailing accident. Mike was beloved wherever he was—in his family, his neighborhood, his work, his yacht club. He was an upbeat, positive force in life, with a smile on his face whether he was laughing with his family for any number of irreverent reasons, delighting in perfecting something on his beloved sailboat, or discovering a new way forward for his or someone else’s research. He was an unselfish collaborator in his research and shared the joys of science and discovery with many colleagues around the world.

Mike received his BA in Chemistry and BS in Biology from University of California, Irvine in 1975, and his Ph.D. in Experimental Pathology at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT in 1982. After a post-doctoral fellowship at Brandeis University, he moved to Brigham & Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School in 1987. In his 31 years in the Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, he was known as a preeminent mast cell biologist, an immunology professor to first year medical students, a mentor for aspiring scientists in the Boston public schools through the Brigham’s Student Success Jobs Program, and the general go-to Mr. Fix-it for almost any of the computer or mechanical equipment in the lab. One of his last comments to his wife was how much he was enjoying his golden years of science—the collaborations, the intellectual stimulation, the lab bench work--simply being, once again, a “lab rat.”

Mike leaves his wife, Margaret Matthews of Dedham, MA, his daughter Gillian Gurish and her partner Michael Abramovich of Chelsea, MA, and son Ernie Gurish and his fiancée Nicole Davidow of Dedham, MA. He also leaves his father, Harold Gurish, Point Richmond, CA, his brothers Matthew Gurish, Sparks, NV, and Jonathon Gurish, San Rafael, CA, and his cousin, Eric Dean, Eureka, CA. Perhaps his “blonde girlfriend”, dog Izzy, will miss him the most. Everyone who knew Mike will miss his warmth, his irreverent sense of humor, and his unfailing support when needed. He was a special man.

Visiting hours will be held at George F. Doherty & Sons Wilson-Cannon Funeral Home, 456 High Street, Dedham, MA on Wednesday, June 6, 2018 from 6 to 8 PM. A memorial service will be held at the First Church and Parish, 670 High Street, Dedham, MA on Friday, June 8 at 3 PM. Relatives and friends kindly invited.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that those who want to remember Mike consider donations in Mike’s memory to Habitat for Humanity (www.habitat.org) or Guide Dogs for the Blind in Smithtown, NY (www.guidedog.org).