Dr. Elliott Dan Kieff

Elliott Dan Kieff, MD, PhD, a renowned Virologist and Infectious Disease doctor, passed
away in Chicago on January 4, 2024. After a long illness, he was at peace and
surrounded with loving care from his wife Jacqueline, their children and several
grandchildren, Elliott’s caregiver Michael Larbi, and the incredible healthcare team at
Montgomery Place. His funeral was held on Sunday, January 7th, in Brookline,
Massachusetts, at the Walnut Hill town cemetery down the street from where he and
Jacqueline lived for about 30 years when he taught at Harvard, and his family are so
grateful to have been joined by the outpouring of friends, colleagues and students, who
joined in the snow to help with his burial, and for the US Army Honor Guard for the flag
and bugle ceremony.
A leading scholar in the field of Human Virology, Elliott made seminal discoveries
concerning the mechanisms by which Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) causes infectious
mononucleosis and contributes to human malignancies, improving science and global
public health.
Born in Philadelphia to Florence Kieff, a teacher in the Philadelphia Public Schools, and
Irving Kieff, JD, an eventual Deputy Attorney General for Pennsylvania, Elliott graduated
in Class 214 from Central High School in 1961. Elliott graduated with a BS in Chemistry
from the University of Pennsylvania in 1964. He and Jacqueline (Silverman) were
married at the Beth Sholom Congregation synagogue in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, in
1965. They moved to Baltimore where he graduated with an MD from Johns Hopkins
University in 1968. They then moved to Hyde Park in Chicago so he could follow his
mentor, Bernard Roizman, ScD, to the University of Chicago to pursue his residency
training.
Elliott and Jacqueline raised their three children in Hyde Park and both graduated from
the University of Chicago with PhDs; Elliott’s in microbiology in 1971, and Jacqueline in
psychology in 1983. Elliott served in the US Army and was honorably discharged in
1975 as a Captain, after completing assigned duties domestically; and he later long
enjoyed serving on the US Army Science Board. While at the University of Chicago,
Elliott built the Infectious Disease program and began his Laboratory working with
Epstein Barr Virus, ultimately becoming the Louis Block Professor of Microbiology.
In 1987, Elliott and Jacqueline moved to Brookline, Massachusetts, where he joined
Harvard University. There, he Chaired the Virology Program as the Harriet Ryan Albee
Professor of Medicine and was the section chief for the Division of Infectious Diseases
at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, roles he found tremendously fulfilling until his
retirement. For much of their time in Brookline, Jacqueline and Elliott also loved
spending weekends and summers with friends at their home near the water in Westport,
Massachusetts. In 2019, he moved with Jacqueline back to Chicago to receive care.
Elliott loved his work. Even more, he loved to mentor, teach and collaborate with
students and colleagues around the world, and to serve on many government,
foundation, university, and private-sector boards and committees. He is remembered as
kind, curious, dogged, playful, and whip smart. He delighted in the pursuit of knowledge
and solutions to problems, from the scientific to the practical. Elliott was a loving
husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He could often be seen doing home
renovations and gardening, or hosting parties with Jacqueline, or out and about
swimming, jogging, playing squash and tennis, or reveling in an anytime ice cream
cone. His communities of Brookline, Westport, and Hyde Park will miss his gusto.
Over his career, Elliott authored over 300 journal articles and chapters in 27 books. His
work was recognized with numerous awards and election to professional and academic
societies including the Ricketts Award at the University of Chicago, and election to the
Association of American Physicians in 1985 where he served as President from
2008-2009, the National Academy of Sciences in 1996, Alpha Omega Alpha Honor
Medical Society in 1997, the Institute of Medicine (now National Academy of Medicine)
in 2001, and the American Academy of Arts & Sciences in 2002.
Elliott is survived by his wife of 59 years, Jacqueline S. Kieff, PhD; their three children,
David Kieff, MD, (Lauren), of Newton, Massachusetts, Scott Kieff, JD, (Rebecca), of
Washington, DC, and Elizabeth Kieff, MD, (Tom), of Chicago; his five grandchildren,
Monica Gottlieb Kieff, DDS,(Martin) Benjamin Kieff, Asher Levinson, Estelle Levinson,
and Evan Kieff; his brother, Nelson Kieff, JD, Major, US Army, Retired. his
brother-in-law, Ronald Silverman, DDS, Major General, US Army, Retired, his
sister-in-law, Miriam Silverman, JD; and by his many students, colleagues, and friends.
A memorial service for broader communities of friends, colleagues, and students, will be
scheduled later when everyone can make plans.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions in Elliott’s memory be made to a
charity of the donor’s choice or the Hyde Park Neighborhood Club in Chicago, Illinois.
Elliott was a city kid, raised in Philadelphia playing tennis on public courts. He loved to
run and swim and be active, indoors and out. He cherished places where all people can
gather, have fun, and build community. The Hyde Park Neighborhood Club is a public
place for kids and families in Elliott’s long-time home of Hyde Park.
May his memory be for a blessing.