Dear Friends and Colleagues,

I am deeply saddened to tell you that Dr. Peter Safar died last evening after a heroic battle with cancer.  It is clear that during his incredible life that he touched each of us in a very special way - whether as a teacher, clinician, scientist, colleague, humanist, musician, or friend.  Although it is still impossible to fathom or respond to his loss, I pass along, as an attachment, a remarkable article about him that appeared this May 21st in JAMA that celebrates some of the special things about Peter Safar that we will so greatly miss.  Funeral arrangements are private.  A public memorial service will be held in Heinz Chapel at a later date.  Details of this will follow soon.

The family requests in lieu of flowers that memorial contributions be made to:

Safar Center for Resuscitation Research
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Attn:  Aaron Roach
P.O. Box 131, Scaife Hall
3550 Terrace Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15261

Patrick M. Kochanek, MD
Director, Safar Center for Resuscitation Research

Ake Grenvik, MD, PhD
Distinguished Service Professor, Critical Care Medicine

Charles Brindis, MD
Department of Anesthesiology

*Letter posted - August 4, 2003

Additional Information:

Peter Safar, M.D., Dies, was Distinguished Professor of Resuscitation Medicine at The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
UPMC News Bureau
Monday, August 4, 2003

Distinguished Doctor and Father of CPR Dies at 79
UPMC News Bureau
Tuesday, August 5, 2003

Red Cross Mourns Loss of CPR Pioneer
Written by Mason Booth , Staff Writer, RedCross.org
Tuesday, August 5, 2003

Kiss-of-life' pioneer dies
BBC News
Monday, August 4, 2003

Obituary: Dr. Peter Safar / Renowned Pitt physician called 'father of CPR'
Post-Gazette
Tuesday, August 5, 2003

Pitt researcher called 'father of CPR' dies
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Tuesday, August 5, 2003

CPR Pioneer Dr. Peter Safar Dies at 79
By Allison Schlesinger
Associated Press Writer