Passing of Marque-Luisa Miringoff

Dear all,

It is with sadness that I write to let you know of the death of a colleague: Marque-Luisa Miringoff, Emerita Professor of Sociology. Professor Miringoff joined the Vassar faculty in 1976 after receiving her PhD from the University of Chicago. She specialized in public health and medicine and was the co-founder and director of the Institute for Innovation in Social Policy, devoted to analyzing, publishing, and hosting conferences on social indicators as a guide to social health. Her three books on America’s social health have had widespread influence on policy-makers and scholars. Her courses such as “Health, Medicine, and Public Policy” and “Disaster and Disorder” helped our students engage critically with a world in which social inequalities all-too-often give rise to health inequalities. Her work, which included the seminal work to define the Index of Social Health, has been widely recognized and supported by the Rockefeller Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the Nathan Cummings Foundation, and others.

In addition to her prolific and important writing, Miringoff was a devoted teacher and mentor for students for decades at Vassar. She taught multiple courses, helping students navigate complex and challenges social and equity issues of her time. She will be deeply missed.

Marque is survived by her brother-in-law, Professor Lee Miringoff of Marist College and his wife, Nancy Miringoff. A graveside service will be held at 1:00pm on Thursday, November 8, at Temple Beth-el Cemetery on Route 44. All are welcome. Shiva will be Thursday night at Lee and Nancy Miringoff’s house, 235 South Grand Ave, from 6:00 to 9:00pm.

Please join me in sending well wishes to Marque’s friends and family.

Elizabeth H. Bradley, President

Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, NY 12604
@EHBVassar