Obituary

HYMAN–Sandra Kammerman. A vibrant, dedicated physician, scientist, leader, teacher, mentor to thousands of medical students, residents and faculty, as well as a wife, mother, grandmother, sister and dear friend, died November 7, 2021, at the age of 81.

Sandy was the devoted wife of 48 years of Sy Hyman and loving mother to her sons Rob and Andrew, and daughter-in-law Lamelle, and beloved grandchildren, Neshama, Aliya, Shalev, and Kol, who adored sleepovers with their grandma (“Amma”) and “Babu”, making brownies, drawing, and visiting sites in Manhattan.

She loved her sisters — Judy, Bobby, and Susan; her brother — Michael; her sister-in-law — Ellen; her brothers-in-law — Frido and Dave; and her nieces and nephews and their children, with all her heart. She was fiercely protective of those she loved, including her family, friends, patients, and colleagues. Her presence made a room sparkle with her genuine interest in people and her good humor. She loved parties and threw many at the beautiful home she shared with her husband, Sy, delighting family and friends with her stellar cooking. Dozens of her magnificent oil paintings adorn the walls of her home as well as the homes of close friends and family.

As an adventurous world traveler and explorer, she developed a love for new cultures and places. After graduating from Cornell, NYU School of Medicine, internship at Harvard Beth Israel, and fellowship at Columbia, her early career focused on scientific investigation of hormone receptors, ovarian cancer, and metabolic bone disease. She authored numerous scientific publications and books.

Sandy founded the primary care clinic at Bellevue Hospital where she spent 20 years as director of ambulatory care, overseeing more than 100 specialized clinics and providing world-class medical care to less advantaged populations. She was also the innovator of numerous medical clerkships and curricula. Before retiring in 2015, she spent her rich work-life teaching, advising, and mentoring medical students, residents and faculty. A great doctor, leader, and teacher, she made an indelible mark on all of those she encountered, and on the life of the Medical Center.

She believed in family and the humanity of vulnerable populations, including the disabled, and she was a strong advocate for the cause of social justice. She will be greatly missed.

The funeral will be Tuesday, November 9, at 10:30am at Riverside Memorial Chapel, 180 W 76th St., NY, NY, 10023. Zoom links for the funeral and burial can be found at: https://bit.ly/SKHFuneral For information about shiva, and to express condolences, please email: rememberingskh@gmail.com. Donations may be given in Sandy’s memory to YAI: Seeing Beyond Disability.

Published by New York Times on Nov. 9, 2021.