I was sad to read about Alan's passing.  He and I worked together for about 30 years after we first met when I came to Mayo Clinic in 1980s as a fellow and young staff.  Alan was instrumental in bringing his mathematical and statistics expertise as well as the discipline associated with his experience in epidemiology working on the Rochester epidemiology project.  He was instrumental also in bringing the disciplined approach to experimental design that was critical for the highest standards of translational and patient-based research conducted in the gastroenterology research unit particularly in the areas of gastrointestinal motility and secretion and the associated diseases of the stomach, intestine, colon, and pancreas.  These talents were much appreciated by the star-studded group of clinical investigators, Drs. Sidney Phillips, Juan-Ramon Malagelada, Keith Kelly, Mike Sarr, Nick LaRusso, Bill Go and Gene DiMagno that led the research which was funded by a center grant from the National Institutes of Health.  In the same way that he brought that expertise and discipline to the group, he facilitated the growth, experience, and success at achieving Federal funding for the next generation of research as including myself.

Our collaboration led to the publication of 186 co-authored peer-reviewed articles of which 98 were clinical trials.  We often met to discuss results or planning future studies in his office on the seventh floor of the Harwick building, and he regularly attended in-person our 7:15 a.m. Tuesday morning research conference, at which he also brought important perspectives for the staff and fellows to learn how to optimize translational and clinical research.  We often met early in the afternoon in his Harwick office after he had gone for his regular swimming exercise at the YMCA. 

It was a great pleasure and honor to know and work with Alan, and as he would expect of me I shall sign off with a Latin fairwell: Requiescat in pace.

Michael

Dear Zinsmeister Family,

I was very saddened to learn of the loss of Alan.

In the late '80s I was at Mayo several times as a Visiting Scientist.  During that time, I, Alan and a group of Mayo staff were working on a project to see if the autologous transplantation of the adrenal medulla to a Parkinson's Disease patient would serve as a treatment for the disease.  Unfortunately this procedure was not effective.

However, several scientific publications arose from these studies.  Alan was the statistician, guiding our experimental planning and helping us to present our results in the most coherent fashion.  He was always helpful, considerate, and could reduce complex data to easily understandable relationships.

I will not forget his mentorship, assistance and pleasurable demeanor.  We have lost a true gentleman.

With sympathy,  Susan Stoddard, Ph.D.

I would like to offer my most heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of Dr Zinsmeister

As then young trainee starting in my 20s I had the great honor of receiving his advice, mentorship and collaboration

It was a quarter century ago. I had the strike of luck of being accepted to work under a once-in-a-lifetime dream team of research giants in the field of Gastroenterology. 

While Dr Z. was the indisputable, world famous statistical guru of the team, I remember being struck since our first encounter from his down to earth attitude, his humble  to the most complex problems, his personal touch.

With his role, his title and his fame he could have well treated us, the research fellows who came from far away and spoke weird, acted strange,  dressed funny and certainly had odd ideas, with some deference, if not contempt at times. Instead, we always could count on him as an ally,  a much needed voice of advice and often of reality check.

He was a father figure bringing to our meetings those hundreds of dot matrix sheets, full of results to interpret, which -hard to believe today- would be a treat for us to tackle. ‘We can do it (even if we’re busy)’ was the most typical answer when challenged with a new project. Lessons I should try everyday not to forget. 

Sit tibi terra levis, Dr Z!.

Dear Zinsmeister family,

I was deeply saddened to hear of Alan’s passing.

I had the privilege of working with Alan during my three years at the Mayo Clinic under Dr. Camilleri’s leadership, and he was one of the people who left the strongest impression on me. He was not only a remarkable statistician, but also a generous teacher and a deeply humane colleague. No matter how busy he was, he was always available to discuss analyses, to think through a problem together, and to help others grow. His intellectual rigor was matched by his openness and kindness.

I learned an enormous amount from Alan, not only about mathematics and statistics, but also about how to collaborate with respect, curiosity, and patience. Those lessons have stayed with me throughout my career. He remains one of my most meaningful and fond memories from my time at Mayo.

Please accept my heartfelt condolences. I hope you can take some comfort in knowing how widely he was admired and how deeply he influenced so many of us who had the good fortune to work with him.

With sympathy and gratitude,

Sílvia