Memo:
Ph.D Retired associate professor of anatomy and director of the VP&S clinical anatomy course, died at age 81. Dr. April served from 1961 to 1963 as an active duty officer in the U.S. Navy and was discharged from the reserves as a lieutenant in 1971. In his 47 years at Columbia, he trained generations of academic leaders in medicine. The textbook he authored, 'Clinical Anatomy,' was the staple text at many academic institutions. His original research, published in Nature, demonstrated that striated muscle is best described as a liquid-crystalline structure. He humanized anatomy teaching and charged his students to respect the gifted body both as a teacher and as their first patient. In that spirit, he established the first anatomy memorial service in the mid-1970's to honor donors' lives and as closure for the students. Dr. April served as a volunteer firefighter in Rockleigh, New Jersey, where he was captain and fire chief from 1987 to 2002. He was a council member for the Borough of Rockleigh, a member of the planning and zoning boards, commissioner of public safety, chair of the Park Commission, and director of the Office of Emergency Management. He was a avid sailor and skier. List of survivors including wife, Laruen Helm, VP&S 2003.
Citation:
Columbia Medicine 41 (Fall/Winter 2021) P 40 (photo), 47
Full Death Date
This person was P&S Faculty
No
Graduation Year
1969
Degree granting institution
College of Physicians and Surgeons
Record ID
12807