Harold L. Rutenburg, C’56, a former clinical associate professor of medicine in the Perelman School of Medicine and former chief of the cardiology division at Pennsylvania Hospital, died on May 14. He was 89.

Born in Philadelphia, Dr. Rutenberg grew up in Camden, New Jersey, and attended Camden High School. He then earned a bachelor’s degree at Penn in 1956. 

After graduating first in his class from Temple University School of Medicine, he served as a U.S. Army doctor. He then returned to Temple, joining its faculty in 1967 and rising to associate professor in 1973. He also served as director of the cardiac clinic and other cardiology programs at Temple Hospital from 1971 to 1975 before being recruited to Penn.

Dr. Rutenberg joined Penn in 1975, leading the cardiology division at Pennsylvania Hospital and serving as an associate professor of medicine in the School of Medicine. At Penn, Dr. Rutenberg specialized in coronary artery disease, chronic high blood pressure, and cardiomyopathy. “He helped usher our cardiology division into the modern era,” said Howard Haber, director of the hospital’s catheterization laboratory. “He was the consummate physician.” In 1981, Dr. Rutenberg was promoted to clinical associate professor in the School of Medicine. The same year, he launched his own practice near Pennsylvania Hospital, where he ministered to patients as a cardiologist. He continued his teaching at Penn, scaling back his duties in 2013 to serve as an instructor and clinician in cardiovascular medicine. Dr. Rutenberg retired from teaching and from his practice in 2021.

Dr. Rutenberg received academic awards for his mentorship and widely published his research on unstable angina, myocardial infarction, and other cardiac conditions, which was published in the New England Journal of Medicine, Lancet, and other peer-reviewed journals. 

Dr. Rutenberg is survived by his wife, Patrice Raef; his children, Greg Davis, Georgia Getz, Emma Rutenberg; his former wife, Jan Bateman; his four grandchildren; his sister; and other relatives.

Donations in Dr. Rutenberg’s memory may be made to Jazz Bridge Project Inc., 6703 Germantown Ave., Suite 200, Philadelphia, Pa. 19119.