Dr. Lowell Saferstein, Ph.D.

Dr. Lowell Gottlieb Saferstein died of pneumonia on the solstice, June 20, 2024. He was a loving husband, devoted father, and brilliant scientist. He was born in Newark, New Jersey, on July 25, 1940, to Belle and Jacob Saferstein.

Lowell attended Rutgers University-Newark for his Bachelor's degree and Rutger’s New Brunswick where he received a PhD in Chemistry. He worked for prestigious companies, including Celenese, Johnson & Johnson, and Ethicon. Dr. Saferstein held 23 patents in the field of medical devices, including bioabsorbable material for the prevention of postsurgical adhesions and hemostatic thrombin paste, and was an expert in oxidized cellulose. His consumer-facing products included “band-aids” that help you heal faster, and more well-known of his inventions included pre-threaded surgical needles and stitches that dissolve after surgery, all still in wide use today. He held posts as president of Sigma Xi, was a member of the American Chemical Society, and attended the Gordon Conferences, among the most well-known international forums for presenting and discussing frontier research in the biological, chemical, physical, and engineering sciences and their interfaces.

Dr. Saferstein enjoyed his free time hiking, traveling, and becoming an avid golfer. He and Rosalie Saferstein, his wife of 48 years, dined out all over New Jersey for her column, 'Table Hopping with Rosie', for NJ Monthly magazine–he was a willing participant and her excellent food photographer.

He was adored by all dogs, including Eloise and Chata, his daughter's dogs. He excelled in gardening and growing plants, was a lifelong learner, and is well known for making the greatest challah, chocolate chip cookies, and granola.

Lowell Saferstein is survived by his wife Rosalie, daughter Bara Sapir, sisters Judy Saferstein and Roberta Kaplan, brother-in-law Steven Rotz, sister-in-law Sherry Rotz, and nieces and nephews. May his memory continue to be a blessing to all who knew and loved him and to those he continues to help through his inventions, hard work, dedication, and creativity.

Donations in Lowell's Memory can be made to the Littman Memory Center, JCC Metrowest, 760 Northfield Avenue, West Orange, NJ 07052 or a charity of your choice.