Barbara Napolitano worked for the biostatistics unit at the Feinstein Institute and North Shore for 25 years. She was a biostatistician. A statistician tries to make sense out of data – information that is based partly on the occurrence of random events. Last month one of those chance events happened: Barbara had a massive heart attack at 58 years old. She did not know that she was sick.
Barbara’s heart was big and generous and she was instrumental in creating a family environment in our small department. Her mind was so strong and focused and scientists who came seeking our services always knew that her data analysis was smart and her guidance in going back to the bench for more work was supported by her kind nature and positive attitude. She would wait for the data until it was strong enough for the scientists to meet the objectives of the study. She had a brilliant way about her.
My name is Marty Lesser and I head the biostatistics unit. She was my colleague and close friend and was instrumental in building our unit. Barbara loved mathematics. She loved making sense out of numbers. She faced each day and every challenge with a smile and an attitude that we would all benefit understanding: she was an optimist in every sense of life. She is missed.
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