Paul Didisheim, M.D. (PATH ’65)

June 3, 1927-August 19, 2023

Paul Didisheim died peacefully in Washington, DC on August 19, 2023, surrounded by family and friends. Paul was born in Paris, France on June 3, 1927. He came to America in 1937 with his parents, Frank Didisheim and Helena Simkhovitch Didisheim. He received his BA from Princeton University, and his MD from Johns Hopkins Medical School, where he met his wife, Ricarda Jahrreiss (July 17, 1929 – November 4, 2021). They were married in 1952 and their medical careers took them to Salt Lake City, Utah, where he served as Chief of the Blood Coagulation Laboratory; the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota where he continued his research in hematology; and then the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute in Bethesda, Maryland where he was the head of the Biomaterials Program. Paul was passionate about social justice and racial equality. His commitment to providing higher education opportunities for all students led him to establish the Didisheim Family Scholarship program at Princeton University which has so far awarded 57 scholarships to students since it was established in 2006. Paul was a devoted husband to Ricarda and an adoring father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. His intellect, curiosity, and kind spirit touched so many, and he will be dearly missed. He is survived by his three children, Melinda Jawadekar, Pete Didisheim, and Andrea Didisheim; sons-in-law, Mak Jawadekar and Evan Yassky; daughter-in-law Leslie Hunt; six grandchildren, Emily Jawadekar, Neal Jawadekar (wife Kerri Jawadekar), Matthew Didisheim, Evan Didisheim, Isaac Yassky, and Leah Yassky; and two great-grandchildren, Olivia and Liam Jawadekar. The family is deeply grateful for the loving support of friends and the dedicated caregivers who assisted and befriended Paul during his final years. Donations can be made to Friends Meeting of Washington, DC and The Cleveland and Woodley Park Village.