Published: 27 July 2021
It is with great sadness that we reported the death of our previous Principal, Professor Peter Kopelman earlier this month.
Following this news we asked alumni and staff to share their tributes and memories which we've added to this page.
Messages from our alumni
Dr Patrick Musami, A&E Specialist doctor, South Yorkshire
It is very disconcerting to hear the sad news of the demise of Prof Peter Koppelman. He arrived at St George’s Hospital Medical towards the end of my medical school years.
Prof Kopelman was ever smiling and he would always exchange a greeting if you met him in the corridors. He was a very unassuming and affable professor and very much hands on in the running of our medical school.
It seems like yesterday, last time I saw him was when he capped our class on graduation day, July 2011.
Condolences to his wife and family. May his soul rest in peace.
David Rawaf
I just want to share my experience of working with Peter during my tenure as Student President in 2009.
Prof was truly a great advocate for both students and staff. There was no stone unturned, and no problem unsolved under his leadership.
His abilities were most evident whenever we met - his warm manner and friendly nature echoed not only through his words but also his actions. His continuous presence at society events, meetings and even social settings was unparalleled and for that level of passion we are grateful to this day.
I will never forget the lovely dinner we had with him and his wife Sue.
My thoughts are with Sue and the family and I want to extend my greatest thanks and advice for all the support they provided to SGUL and to my team at the time.
All the best.
Dr. Aziza "Zizi" Abioye
I was truly shocked and saddened to hear the sudden news of your passing! I will always remember you as the foundation of St. George's and associate you with it as you were Principal during my time there (2008-2015).
You finished your tenure there with my graduating class of 2015, the last time I saw you as you shook my hand, congratulated me on graduating and wished me good luck on my ongoing journey; the end of a memorable era and start of another chapter.
I remember you as an upstanding quiet gentleman whom despite SGUL's constant changes at the time, you were unwavering, dedicated and genuinely interested in its wellbeing and good reputation.
Thank you, Sir! It was a privilege to have made your acquaintance. I pray your soul rests in peace & comfortably. Amen!
My sincerest condolences to your loved ones. I hope your memories with Prof Kopelman become a comfort to you in these difficult times! Although we may not be able to see him physically, Prof's spirit lives on!
Dr Giles Faria
My name is Dr Giles Faria and I attended SGUL for Medicine in the class of 2016.
Having just turned 18, I arrived at SGUL for my first day of medicine with a level of nerves and anxiety but Professor Kopelman delivered a calming, inspirational and motivational talk which set me at ease and I went on to have a wonderful 6 years at SGUL.
Sadly, I did not have the opportunity to work with him more closely but the highest compliments of him were given by my colleagues who did.
May he rest in peace and my condolences and thoughts to his family.
Dr Jonathan Hollow
I was saddened to see the news regarding Peter sent out yesterday.
I was a Student Union Vice President between 2008 and 2010 for 2 years and got to know Peter and his wife Sue very well.
As I then went on to study medicine at Barts and the London our paths often crossed over the subsequent years at various George's and Bart's events.
Mark Howe
I only properly met Prof Kopelman once. It was at the Student's Union summer dinner in 2014 during my first year.
I was under the impression that most of the upper management was either centred to the administrative and ceremonial roles in higher education.
It was refreshing to watch Peter riding the bumper cars, beating the daylights out of the students with a Dick Dastardly-like expression.
Irene Cotter
Sincere condolences to Prof. Kopelman’s family
Hugh Evans, Retired Consultant Surgeon
So sorry to hear this news. We were SHOs together in Tooting.
Please pass on my condolences.
Lynette Richards Lorde
Such sad news. Sincere condolences to Peter’s family and many friends and colleagues
Gone so soon.
Messages from staff and colleagues
Professor Tony Michael BSc (Hons), PhD, FRSB, Deputy Vice-Principal for Education (Programmes), Dean for Education (Science & Engineering), and Professor of Reproductive Biology, Queen Mary University of London
Having had the privilege of serving on Peter's "Principal's Advisory Group" (PAG), I cannot begin to convey how sad I feel to hear of Peter's passing.
Every time I take a different route to work and join the tube at South Woodford, I always look out for Peter. I am sad that I will not need to do that anymore.
Of my many memories of Peter, my most abiding will be when, with a heavy heart, I met with him in the Spring of 2013 at Senate House to resign from St George's (SGUL). I had been offered a fantastic new opportunity to move to Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) but was sad to be turning my back on the friends and colleagues that I was so fond of working with at SGUL.
Peter's diary was very pressed and so I met with him at Senate House late one evening in a short break between his other diary commitments.
His reaction epitomized why Peter was so admired and respected by anyone that worked with him; he was available to talk through the pros and cons of my decision with me and tested whether I was making the right decision, not for St George's or for QMUL, but for me and my career.
Peter put the professional development and welfare of colleagues and friends above the needs of the university of which he was, at that time, Principal.
I remember him being sad (and possibly a little frustrated) to receive my notice, but he respected me for resigning in person, and I shall always respect him for caring more about people than the posts or roles that those individuals inhabit.
I last saw Peter in a different role, as interim Vice-Chancellor of the University of London (attending the launch of Queen Mary's 2030 strategy at the V&A museum), and he greeted me as an old friend. Although he teased me, he harbored no bad feeling from my decision to leave the SGUL community for new opportunities and was keen to hear how things were going in my new post.
Peter will be missed by all who knew him in any one of several professional capacities, and my thoughts are with Sue and the rest of the family at this saddest of times.
In fast approaching 30 years of experience in academic across three quite different London universities, Peter remains one of the most thoughtful, respected, and admired leaders that I have ever had the pleasure and privilege to work with.
Dr Hugh F Thomas Honorary Senior Lecturer in Public Health and Primary Care Public Health Research Institute St George's, University of London
I first met Peter in 2009 when I attended a meeting that he arranged regularly to meet new members of staff. I very much appreciated the personal touch.
Although I was working in Public Health and Primary Care, I was interested in the history of St George's and Peter gave great support to get the SGUL Archive properly funded and organised.
This was very much appreciated by the library staff and later led to the appointment of a professional Archivist. I was very pleased to find his father's student record card in the archive with attached letters saying what a good houseman he had been.
In 2014 I emailed him a lecture that I had prepared on SGUL and the Great War and by return, on a Saturday morning, I had a most friendly and encouraging reply. The lecture was given on the Grand Round near Armistice Day, a century after the war started.
Peter was immensely proud of the history of SGUL in training doctors, nurses, and other health professionals.
We will miss his supportive smile and wise advice.
Sir Sabaratnam Arulkumaran, Professor Emeritus of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
It was with great sadness I read the news of Professor Peter Kopelman passing away.
I had the pleasure of working under Peter's guidance as Professor & Head of O&G.
Peter was an exemplary leader, mentor, good friend and has helped and guided many including me.
Peter contributed immensely to clinical services, research, teaching and training through St George's and the Royal College of Physicians.
Peter was an exceptional Principal for St George's, who steered SGUL during uncertain times.
Our deepest sympathies to Sue who has been a pillar of support to Peter and their family.
Claire Emery, Senior Lecturer in Academic Skills, St George's University of London/Kingston University
Professor Kopelman made me feel so welcome when I joined the joint Faculty in 2010 as a non-medical lecturer. I felt valued.
Whenever I saw him, he was laughing or smiling and had a way of making everybody feel at ease.
Atticus H Hainsworth MA PhD, Reader in Cerebrovascular Disease
RIP Peter. A nice man.
Renju Chidambaran, Croydon Health Services, NHS Trust
A charismatic persona and a true gent. Will always be remembered fondly as a down to earth leader.
My prayers for eternal peace and blessings to the prof. RIP.
Dr Philip Webster
I played rugby with Pete for 3 years at St George’s. I was outside half and he was inside centre.
Although he achieved many academic honours not many people know that he was a good rugby player as well.
The quiet man, but when he was not playing the three-quarter line did not run as smoothly.
A great guy, sadly missed
Regards and condolences to all his family.
Chris Conneely, Past Head of Alumni & Development at St George's, University of London
Dear Sue & Family,
I was very sorry to hear about Peter and I just wanted you to know that you're in my thoughts at this difficult time.
Peter was a wonderful man and I have a great deal of respect for him. Working with him was a privilege.
I learnt so much from him and I know how deeply he cared about St George's, its students, staff and alumni. When I think of Peter, what will stay with me is just how much he cared about others and how kind he was.
Messages from classmates
Jill Leach
I was incredibly sad to hear that Peter Kopelman had died.
I first met Peter in October 1969 as first year medical students at King’s College in The Strand where along with students from King’s College Hospital and Westminster Hospital we studied for our 2nd MB.
Our actual first encounter was over a cadaver in the dissection room, along with Sean Hilton, Anne Hodges (Hastie) Graham Hunter, Paul Jenkins- all St George’s graduates. Peter appeared shy, immensely polite and quietly amusing.
Once we graduated our paths did not cross again until many years later when we met queueing to get into the Houses of Parliament for an alumni event. He remained as unassuming as in our younger years despite his prominence in the medical world.
My condolences to his wife and family. I am sure he will be missed.
Dr Jeremy P. Steele MB BS MD FRCP, Consultant Medical Oncologist, Barts
I did not know Peter at St George's Hospital Medical School as I was there in the 1980s.
I became a consultant oncologist at Barts in 2002 where he was a senior consultant.
I got to know him a little as colleagues and always enjoyed having a quick chat when we bumped into each other. Sad news.