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Dr. Nisar Quraishi dies from the coronavirus at 74
Dr. Nisar Quraishi, who practiced internal medicine in Tribeca starting in 1976 — first at Independence Plaza then at 303 Greenwich — and not only saw thousands of patients here, but those patients’ children as well, died on Saturday from the coronavirus. He was 74.
“He was a wonderful wonderful man — I am truly heartbroken,” said Jeff Tabak, whose real estate firm is on Reade. “We had so many layers. He was my doctor, we were on the condo board together, he was my client, and on top of that we were friends. This was a tough one.”
His practice, Tribeca Medical Center, was for decades in the space that is now Downtown Yogurt; he bought the office when the building was constructed in 1987 and only moved recently, in 2014, to 111 Broadway, in the offices run by NYU Langone, with which he was affiliated.
Dr. Quraishi lived in New Jersey with his wife and the couple raised their two sons there — one of whom, Abid, practiced with him for several years. “If you didn’t see the father, you saw the son,” said Jeff. He was still practicing and seeing patients as recently as three weeks ago when he contracted the virus.
He received his medical degree from the University of Dacca in Pakistan in 1969 and held a faculty appointment as Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at New York Medical College for over 15 years. He was most recently a clinical assistant professor of medicine at New York University School of Medicine. Dr. Quraishi was also appointed as a civil surgeon for the Department of Homeland Security, Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services.
“He was intelligent, but also level headed and always calm, kind and compassionate,” said Jeff, who last saw him in January. “When he came into my office, I got up from my desk and walked over to him and hugged him. I am not sure why. He was a bit surprised, but I am so glad I did.”
The family has requested that any donations be made to the Albaseerah International Institute, an Islamic educational organization in Plainfield, NJ.
114 Comments
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I am so saddened by this news. I just sent a message as I regular did to him ask a question and was advised his passing. I’ve been a patient for about 6 years. I will miss him scolding me to eat more salads before my meals and live a healthier life. He was almost like a dad, especially when I was prepping for my wedding day and got my checkup before travels, he would just listen to all the details. My condolences to all of his colleagues and his family. With deepest sympathies…he will be missed????.
Such sad news. He was such a kind and compassionate man and an excellent physician. He made a positive difference in so many lives. His passing marks a loss for so many Tribeca families. My heartfelt condolences to Abed and the rest of his family.
Having lost my GYN last year and Dr Quraishi this year has deeply saddened me. Dr Quraishi was my primary care physician for over 25 years. I feel so lost. My condolences to the family. May he rest in peace.
What a great loss. Dr. Quraishi was a caring, compassionate doctor and a good person. My condolences to his family.
Thank you Dr. Quraishi for being our doctor for so many years, thank you for listening, for returning our calls, and for all the caring. Sincere condolences to his family. I am so sorry for this tragic loss.
I just learned this through the grapevine. I went to Dr Q for so many years. He was always a calm, steady source of comfort and common sense – and medical wisdom. The absolute definition of what you want your personal physician to be in so many ways. Please post here if there’s anything people can do in tribute to him or to assist his family in any way.
This is unbelievably saddening. Dr. Quraishi was the best. My husband and I are so saddened. The first visit, many years ago, I asked about his elephant wall; he said he didn’t particularly like elephants, but patients kept giving them to him because they thought he did; he grew to love his collection. He was absolutely the best. Always a warm smile and gesture and concern for how we were. he was also the best doctor and diagnostician. Period. we will greatly miss him.
Our hearts go out to his wife and sons and extended family. During a visit, I would share a concern I had at that time as a parent and he would share an anecdote, giving me a larger picture, allaying my concerns into perspective. I always felt much better after I had spoken with him. He was a very special person who will be greatly missed.
Patrick and Barrie
Doctor Quarishi was my doctor for over 20 years; I will miss him. I saw him the first time in his office at Greenwich street. He was a wonderful man. If I had a question or concerned he will be promptly call me back. My condolences to his family…
A good, kind, patient, sensible man and a damn fine doctor. I felt safe with him.
So sorry to learn of Dr. Quraishi’s passing. He was the nicest man and a great doctor to me and several other members of my family.
Thank you kind sir.
RIP
Dr Quraishi was my doctor for nearly 20 years first in private practice at TMC and then at NYU. He was a calm steady presence, always asked about my personal life, and even smiled occasionally at my feeble attempts to make him laugh. He epitomized “care” and beamed about his two successful sons often. I am thankful for having Dr. Quraishi as my GP, and I know I can speak for many others in saying he will be missed.
I was about to write to him today when I noticed the NYU Langone logo and opened the envelop with the sad news. He had been my doctor for several years, we learnt to know each other, often we exchanged about our lives and family. Very human, practical, not the type to ‘overmedicalise’ his patients, at the same time very experienced, his humanity and fondness blended with his expertise in a very unique way that I had never witnessed with anyone else before. My wife had started consulting with him recently, as well as a close friend. We are all so saddened. Farewell, dear Doctor. Gilles.
I moved from the U.K. and he was my doctor when I came to America. I recently saw him in Feb before moving back. What an amazing man, he told me when I put on 80lbs, that people carry 80lbs for construction work for 8 hours a day, but your carrying it for 24 hours a day for free. That comment always stuck with me. I will miss you, no other doctor has ever come close and I was so lucky to meet you. Take care doc
He was a good man. Shocking to hear. I followed him from Greenwich st. We got along well. I tried so hard to make him laugh and when he did, he had a great smile. It’s very devastating. My deep condolences to all his friends.
Dr Quraishi has been my primary care doctor for over 10 years. Great man and an excellent physician. Condolences to the family. He will be missed.
Thank you, Dr. Quraishi, for being my doctor for more than 30 years. I am greatly saddened by your death. Thanks to the many persons who have written here I am getting to know you better. I look forward to appreciating your wisdom and kindness even more as time goes on. Mary
Dear Dr.Quraishi thank you for being my good Dr. I Would try to eat healthier. I need your push. I’m Los. I’ll miss you for ever.
My deepest sympathies to your beautiful family and friends.
You were not only my Dr. but my friend. We New each other for so many years.
Please continue taking care of me by. remembering your good advise. Rest in peace. ????
Clemencia Ramirez
I am so sad…he was my husband’s and my primary for over a decade. Kind, thoughtful, warm and spiritual. May he rest in peace and God bless his family.
I am so saddened by the news of Dr. Quraishi’s passing. As my doctor for years, he was a steady source of comfort in my life. I relished his “serious” expressions when he tried to talk sense to me. I always listened. He made me smile. He cared for me. I always felt it. I wish to send peace and blessings to his family. We lost a great man.
I am terribly saddened by this. I had been seeing him for 15 years and was always impressed by what a fine man and doctor he was. A real doctor with bed side manner and very wise. He was honest and had tremendous values.
My thoughts go out to his family. My heart hurts for them.
Sacha Miller
I am shocked and saddened by this news. Thank you Dr.Quraishi for being my doctor for 30 years. Thank you for taking such good care of me all those years and then taking care of my husband too. Thank you. May you Rest In Peace. And I wish love and peace to your family.
I am devastated. I heart goes out to his family and all that loved him dearly. He was a kind, caring, loving doctor who helped me when I needed his care most. I will miss him dearly. May he Rest In Peace.
For 12 years Dr. Quaishi was my doctor. He was a great person. He treated me respectfully and gave me the feeling I was almost
a friend. In February this year I visited him at Langone to check on my coughing. The visit was very short. He said my coughing was from a cold not Corona. A firm handshake from the doctor and advised me to take my medicine because “I want to see you around for a long time”. Sadly, this was the last word I heard from him ….. I wish I could take care of him..
Goodbye my friend. I miss you.
Hermann Platschka
I am so saddened by this news. He was such a nice, soft-spoken, thoughtful doctor who always made me feel as though he wasn’t trying to rush to the next patient. I trusted his judgment because I I know he cared. When we were chitchatting, he would always talk about his kids, of whom he was exceptionally proud. I am not at all surprised by the outpouring of love for him. My deepest condolences to his family.
What sad news about Dr.Quraishi’s passing he was our primary doctor over 40 years we met him when he was at the Beekman down Hospital his caring to us was second to none we will miss him very much.
Love and condolences to his family, friends, and loyal patients.
When i opened my envelope from NY Langone and read that My favorite doctor ever passed i fell to the floor. He was my doctor for 30 years. He knew me better than anyone. I always pleaded with him not to retire because i don’t know what i would do without him. He was so caring and kind and brilliant. I will miss him drarly and my heartfelt condolences go out to his family. Rest in peace
It is so difficult to find doctors that you trust and a doctor who makes you feel at ease. My condolences to his family and NYU doctors.
I’m very saddened to hear of his passing, I have been seeing him for 9 years and he was an excellent doctor and an even kinder man. RIP
Very sad to read the letter from Langone today. Dr. Quraishi was my gp for almost 20 years, He took time, asked questions and listened. I was always warmed by the gentleness and warmth in his voice and the encouragement he offered at visits. I also appreciated that he called back to discuss test results–until the mylangone system started send me correspondence. A fine man and a great loss to his family, all of us patients and to the medical profession. He really knew how to give medical CARE.
This is such a devastating news! He was my doctor for 25 years, the only one I have had in adulthood. He was always such a humble man, and always willing to engage in health discussions. I followed him from his private practice to NYU Langone, the only reason why I went there. He was fatherly and caring, and always gave me the gift of calm during my worst health crises. I would like to tell his family that it was truly wonderful having him as a doctor. I am a bit lost now because I have known him most of my adult life. I don’t think I’d find another doctor like him. But thank you and thank you for being so kind, Dr. Quraishi!
Dr. Quraishi was my doctor for almost 20 years. I am so sadden by this news. He was so calming and had a human touch. My deepest condolences to his family, and friends. Thank you Dr. Quraishi for everything.
I’m so sad to hear of the loss of such a gentle and humble man. Dr Quraishi has been my doctor for only 1 year but in that time I’ve come to have great respect for him. I’m truly going to miss him. My deepest sympathies to his family, staff and patients. May God grant him a place in his gardens in paradise. Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Illahi Raji’oon.
I am so saddened by Dr. Quraishi’s passing. He has been my Dr. since he had his office on Greenwich Street, and I followed him to NYU Langone because I trusted him and liked him. He was such an elegant and wonderful, wonderful man, so caring, warm and always professional. I had pneumonia in October, and he actually called me from his home to ask about my health. I was shocked, and moved. He always called with test results, but I never expected him to call from his home. I despair at thinking of him suffering. I will miss seeing him.
He was my PCP for the last year. I always thought he was honest and kind. He always came back to me quickly when the lab results came back and told me what to do next. I’m going to miss seeing him.
What I remember most about Dr. Quareshi from our short history is when I saw him last year, I lamented about being old. When I complained about my age, he gave a big hearty chuckle and said “you’re old? When you get to my age, then you’re old.” He didn’t seem old to me. Only found out now that now he is 74. Still, a brilliant soul gone too soon. I will miss him.
My sincerest condolences to Dr. Quraishi’s family. He was a wonderful doctor.
I started seeing Dr Quraishi over 10 years ago in TriBeCa. He was an exceptional doctor and helped me get over a number of illnesses. He was a great advisor in getting and staying healthy. He was a tremendous help in early sobriety. Over the years we became friends and discussed our families. When I asked, he always mentioned how proud he was of both of his sons. He reflected on and their differences but also their tremendous successes. I will deeply miss having what I consider to be the best primary doctor I’ve ever had – as well as a genuine friend of the highest character. Along with his intellect, his kindness and gentle manner made the world a better place.
Dr. Quraishi was my personal physician for more than 20 years. He was the most kind and dignified man I have ever met. I will remember And miss him always.
I just learned of Dr. Quraishi’s passing and was so sad to hear. I was a patient of his for over 15 years from his days on Greenwich St and I certainly stayed with him when he went to NYU because he was that good. He was a wise soul who always had the right touch and guidance. He was beloved in the community and will be greatly missed. Thank you Doctor for all your years of service, advice, and just being a really special person.
I just received a letter from NYU Langone Health and learned the passing of Dr. Quraishi of doing what he loves…..talking about life and saving lives. He was a very caring physician just like my father who was a general surgeon. We met through our common friend in the 90s and Dr. Quraishi has been my primary doctor ever since……He is compassion and righteous and I am honor and grateful to have been his patient…….thank you and RIP Dr. Quraishi.
I will miss you Dr. Quraishi. As my doctor for over 30 years, since I was 9 years old, no other PCP will ever come close. My deepest condolences to your family. RIP
He was my GP for many years and a true Tribeca institution. He was always kind but showed great common sense and perspective. I am a very saddened by this loss at so young an age. It shines a strong light on the risks the medical community has taken in order to protect us. But mostly we feel a great sense of sadness and loss of this fine and decent man.
Dr. Quraishi was a kind, supportive man and doctor. He will be sorely missed. My deepest condolences to his family.
I was so sad when I read this. He was such a kind and gentle and caring man and doctor. I went to him for many years. Wishing his family much love.
Ugh, awful news. Quraishi was my family doctor for many years and I saw him after switching from our pediatrician and neighborhood friend, Bonnie Franklin.
Thanks for posting this, Erik.
Dr. Quraishi was our family’s PCP for many years. His passing is deeply saddening. He will be sorely missed. I appreciated his no non-sense but occasionally humorous way in which he explained one’s diagnoses. He was a kind and caring person. My deepest condolences to his family.
I shocked to just hear this terrible news. Dr. Quiraishi was my physician since arriving to New York over 30 years ago. He was a wonderful, caring doctor, who helped me so many times. You could tell what kind of man he was by his handshake, the way he looked you in the eye, and his smile. What a great person and doctor, I’ll miss him greatly.
Damn this disease.
My condolences to the family. He was my PCP for a little over a year and was very happy with his care. Will surely be missed. R.I.P.
I just found out when I called to ask why he no longer accepted my insurance (as per the letter they sent). After I was told that all the other doctors accept my insurance, I said I cant pick just like that. Dr. Qurashi has been my doctor for 20 years. I cried on the phone when the customer service rep told members. No one expects the doctor to be sick. They are like super human. Dr. Q made me feel protected because he always took the right precautions. But now I feel lost. And I will be sure to eat my veggies. And each time I exercise, I will remember him saying “you can do it” with such confidence in me…. RIP doc..
Dr. Qurashi was my doctor for over 30 years. He was honest, kind, caring and the only doctor that I have ever trusted. I’m heart broken and so sad to learn about his passing. My condolences to the family and may he rest in peace.
As everyone has said, i will miss Dr.,Quraishi.
I loved his beautiful smile and his handshake
It will truly be hard to find a new doctor.
I just found out and am blown away. I was a patient of Dr. Qurashi’s for over 20 years. My wife use to audit his practice and told me he had the best records and was just the nicest physician. When I was looking for a new primary she wouldn’t let me go anywhere else. He knew every patient by name , their family and was proactive to make sure you were thinking about achieving your best health. To the Quraishi family – he was a special person. You should be proud of how many lives he affected.