Howard M. Leibowitz M.D.

Howard M. Leibowitz, MD, FACS, retired chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at Boston University, passed away peacefully on February 25, 2026, leaving behind a legacy defined by clinical excellence, academic leadership, and a lifelong commitment to advancing the care of the eye. He lived in Dana Point, California, and was formerly of Weston, Massachusetts, and Mattapoisett, Massachusetts. Dr. Leibowitz’s distinguished career began with his medical degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, followed by internship and residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital and the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. During the Vietnam Era, Dr. Leibowitz served as a captain in the U.S. Army Medical Corps. He later completed fellowship training at the Howe Laboratory of Harvard Medical School. Over the decades, he became an internationally recognized expert in the diagnosis and treatment of corneal disorders. His work shaped the standards of care for countless patients and influenced generations of ophthalmologists. As Professor and Chairman Emeritus of Ophthalmology at the Boston University School of Medicine, Dr. Leibowitz was known for his steady leadership, clinical rigor, and deep commitment to teaching. He guided the department through periods of growth and innovation, expanding both its clinical reach and its academic reputation. A prolific scholar, he authored numerous journal articles and two editions of the textbook ‘Corneal Disorders’, contributions that continue to inform clinical practice and medical education. Across more than six decades in medicine, Dr. Leibowitz cared for patients in Boston and beyond. His expertise, compassion, and meticulous approach earned him the respect of peers and the gratitude of thousands of patients. Outside of his professional life, Howard Leibowitz found great joy in and on the water. He spent his summers swimming, paddling, and sailing with friends and family on both coasts. Dr. Howard M. Leibowitz will be remembered not only for his clinical mastery but also for his humility, curiosity, and devotion to the field he loved and to his family. His legacy lives on in the physicians he trained, the patients he healed, and the academic community he helped shape. He is survived by his wife, Ann; his daughters, Katherine Kotkin and Zahava Savory; Zahava’s husband, Reed Savory; and his grandchildren, Dana Kotkin, David Kotkin, Rosa Savory, and Noah Savory. Dr. Leibowitz was buried in a private interment. A virtual memorial service will be held later in the spring. Contributions in his memory may be made to the Mass Lions Eye Research Fund, Inc., 37 Island Road, Millis, MA 02054 Attn: Debbie Hayes, Treasurer or online at https://www.mlerfi.com/how-to-help/.