Edmond J. Yunis, M.D., age 93, of Concord, died peacefully after a heart attack on Wednesday, June 7, 2023. He was the beloved husband of Borghild (Olson) Yunis for 58 years and beloved father and father-in-law of Maria and Donald (Crookes); David and Silvana; Joseph and Suzanne; and Christian and Shabnam; and adored grandfather of Gregory (Foley), Camila, Matthew, Joseph Jr., Alexandra, Ava and Darius, all who survive him.

Edmond was an active member of the West Concord Union Church.

Born in Sincelejo, Colombia on August 8, 1929, he was the oldest son of Jose and Victoria (Turbay) Yunis. Growing up in a small town near the coast, through fate and unbelievable events, one of nine children of proud Lebanese immigrants of modest means and education, Edmond became a world-renowned scientist and Harvard Medical School Professor. In recognition of his contributions to his field he was given the title of Emeritus Professor of Pathology in 2016.

Dr. Yunis was educated in Bogotá, Colombia at the Colegio Nacional de San Bartolomé for his Baccalaureate and the Universidad Nacional de Colombia where he received his doctorate of medicine in 1954. As part of his medical school training, Edmond served as a rural doctor in the jungle for two years. In his formative years he had mentors who influenced his interest in scientific research as well as his passion for culture, the arts, and music, namely the Swedish scientist, Georg Dahl and the celebrated Colombian poet, León de Greiff.

His postdoctoral training began as an intern at the Hôtel-Dieu in New Orleans, LA. His pathology residencies were at Kansas University and at the University of Minnesota. He was a visiting scientist at Boston Children's Hospital in Immunohaematology and Blood Transfusion. His multiple academic and hospital appointments started in Minnesota at the University of Minnesota and the University of Minnesota Hospitals in 1960. As Director of the Blood Bank and then Director of the Division of Immunology at the University of Minnesota Hospitals, his career as a professor evolved when he was appointed Professor of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology. His involvement in the blood bank played a huge role in developing a secure method for blood transfusions during the development of open heart surgery. During this time he met and married the love of his life and lifelong companion, Borgie. Their four children were all born in Minneapolis.

In 1976, Dr. Yunis was appointed as a Professor of Pathology at the Harvard Medical School where he was the Director of Immunogenetics graduate courses and Chief of the Division of Immunogenetics at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. He was also the Director of the Clinical HLA Laboratory at the Dana-Farber, the Director of the HLA Laboratory at the American Red Cross, and a Senior Associate at the Center for Blood Research. He also held positions as a Visiting Scientist and Visiting Scientist Professor for the National Institutes of Health of Mexico.

Professor Yunis's scientific contributions were vast as his curriculum vitae is nearly 70 pages long. His major research interests were human immunogenetics and molecular basis of disease. His description of the allelic composition of the major histocompatibility complex in humans continues to be an instrumental discovery for donor matching and organ transplantation. Of interest, his work in describing tetragametism, a form of chimerism, helped solve a medical mystery that could have separated two mothers from their children. He appeared in a BBC special, "I Am My Own Twin", explaining this phenomenon.

He shared his scientific discoveries with the world, authoring over 800 peer-reviewed scientific publications all in the most prestigious scientific and medical journals, including Science, Nature, and the New England Journal of Medicine. His work has been recognized by his peers for decades. He frequently traveled the world as an expert lecturer and panelist and as a visiting professor. Of the numerous awards he received, he was particularly proud of the Philip Levine Award in 1987, the Rose Payne Award in 1992, and The Colombian Medal of Science in 1993, and in 2005 he was recognized as the Hispanic Scientist of the Year by MOSI in Tampa, Florida.

He held various memberships and offices in numerous professional societies including the American Association of Pathologists, American Association of Immunologists, and American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics, for which he was President 1984 -1985. He was the Chairman for the Awards Committee of the American Association of Immunologists and an honorary member of the Colombian Academy of Medicine. Among the multiple editorial boards in which he participated were Immunogenetics and the Journal of Immunology. He also contributed to several scientific and medical science textbooks.

Larger than life in so many ways, all who knew Edmond, Professor Yunis, Tio Edmond, knew his heart—its size seemed to expand to hold anyone who crossed his path regardless of their station. He was loved by so many who saw him as their mentor, teacher, friend, brother, Dad, Papa, Uncle/Tio, and second father to many. He was a man of many facets. He loved to write poetry, listen to classical music, and sing and dance to latin music. A proud father and even prouder grandfather, he beamed when he was with his grandchildren. The family has beautiful memories of family trips, summer weekends in New Hampshire and holiday gatherings.

He was predeceased by his parents Jose and Victoria (Turbay) Yunis, his older sisters Odette Mattes, Elida Feris, and Josephina Borquez, and his younger brothers Dr. Emilio Yunis and Dr. Eduardo Yunis. He is also survived by two brothers Dr. Jose Yunis and Dr. Jorge Yunis and a sister Leyla Yunis.

Family and friends will gather for visiting hours on Friday, July 14th from 4 to 6 pm at Dee Funeral Home, 27 Bedford Street, Concord Center. A memorial service in celebration of Edmond's life will be held in the Trinitarian Congregational Church, 54 Walden Street, Concord Center on Saturday, July 15th at 11 am. The service will be live streamed and recorded. Interment at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery will be private.

To view the video recording of Edmond's service, please click here .

In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the BU ICCR Program which has been particularly helpful to his granddaughter, Lexi, The Glioblastoma Foundation in hope to make a difference to his son, Christian, or to the West Concord Union Church .

Arrangements are entrusted to Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord.