Dr. Andrew Keith Dingwall of Hinsdale, 62, passed away peacefully from a long battle with cancer on July 24, 2023, surrounded by his family.
Andrew was born in 1960 in Watertown, New York. He was an avid and skilled member of his high school and college debate teams, placing 14th in the National Debate Competition. Andrew began his scientific career by obtaining a master's degree in microbiology at the University of Wyoming and later moved to New York to pursue a doctorate at the Albert Einstein School of Medicine.
Early in graduate school, he met fellow student Claudia, and they quickly became best friends, falling in love as they adventured around New York City and the Hudson River Valley. Andrew and Claudia married in 1989 and then moved to California, where they completed their post-doctoral training at Stanford University.
Andrew's first faculty position began in 1997 in the biology department at Syracuse University, where he and Claudia established their first research laboratory together. In 2004, the two moved to Chicago, where Andrew was a professor of cancer biology at Loyola University School of Medicine until his death. As a team, they mentored dozens of graduate, undergraduate and medical students and published groundbreaking research in the field of cancer epigenetics and developmental biology. His brilliant mind, calm temperament and intuitive scientific thinking were the foundations of his nearly 30-year academic research career.
Outside of the lab, Andrew was a passionate advocate of basic science research and physician scientist training. He was a beloved professor to medical and graduate students. His love of mentorship extended to his position as co-director and then director of the prestigious MD-Ph.D. program at the Stritch School of Medicine.
Andrew was diagnosed with an extremely rare and aggressive form of cancer in March 2022. Despite the side effects he suffered due to treatments, he was still determined to come to work every day possible. He spent much of his illness ensuring the successful stewardship of his students, and he worked right up until the very end of his life.
Andrew was the ultimate family man and "girl dad." His daughters, Caitlin (28) and Lauren (25), spoke to him every day on the phone, and he often served as the unofficial family therapist. His love of science and medicine inspired Caitlin to become a physician-scientist, and his passion for teaching led Lauren to a career in education. He worked tirelessly to make sure his children were happy, loved and successful in life. In March 2023, he became a grandfather, one year to the date of his cancer diagnosis. He was intensely proud of his grandson Andrew and spent much of the last months of his life doting on his first grandchild.
He is survived by his wife, Dr. Claudia Beth Zraly; his children, Dr. Caitlin (Dr. Michael Fitzpatrick) Dingwall and Lauren (fiancé Andriy Hudyy) Dingwall; his grandson, Andrew Fitzpatrick; his parents, Dr. Robert and Mary Dingwall; and his brother, Gregory (Eva) Dingwall.
Visitation is from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 3, at Sullivan Funeral Home, 60 S Grant St., Hinsdale.
A funeral Mass will take place at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 4, at St. John of the Cross Church, 5005 Wolf Road, Western Springs.
Interment is private.
