Dovie Eisner has died.  

Dovie was a New Yorker whose last public writing act was to speak out against assisted suicide in a very personal practical way.  

But the same weekend a piece he wrote was picked up by the New York Post’s print edition, he had a mishap with the contraptions — his ventilator, not for the first time — that helped keep him alive. He’s been in a coma since then — May 2025. He had been looking forward to being at the Becket Fund dinner later that week honoring Cardinal Dolan. He would have loved Dolan’s clever, convicting remarks. But knowing Dovie died last Friday made a whole lot make sense in my mind and heart: He must have been sticking with us until England’s Parliament rejected assisted suicide. His beloved New York was too suicidal to listen to his wisdom — his plea — but across the pond was smarter.  

I think he would have been fascinated that he died on the 25th anniversary of September 11. He would have been still a child when it happened, but it happened in his city, of course. But history and politics — and religion — fascinated him.  

Dovie was brilliant as his friendships with the likes of Princeton’s Robert P. George suggested. He seemed to collect intellectuals not just because of how smart he was, but because of his insatiable curiosity and goodness.  

He also, as best I could tell, might have had insomnia, so he seemed to be available at all hours for conversation. Sometimes probing. Always interesting.  

Late last night, his brother posted this to Facebook:  

Hey, everyone. This is Moshe Eisner, Dovie’s brother. Sadly, my brother Dovie passed away this past Friday, September 11th, after being in a coma since May of last year. I’m so sorry to have to break that news to you all. At the very least, my family and I take comfort in knowing he is no longer suffering. I’ve checked this page several times over the last few months, and I’ve appreciated seeing how many of you have been thinking of him. Despite over a year of not being able to speak with your friend Dovie, you’ve kept him alive in your hearts. That means a lot to me, and I know it would mean far more to my brother. . . . Thank you all for what you meant to Dovie.

Hey, everyone. This is Moshe Eisner, Dovie’s brother.

Sadly, my brother Dovie passed away this past Friday, September 11th, after being in a coma since May of last year. I’m so sorry to have to break that news to you all.

At the very least, my family and I take comfort in knowing he is no longer suffering.

I’ve checked this page several times over the last few months, and I’ve appreciated seeing how many of you have been thinking of him. Despite over a year of not being able to speak with your friend Dovie, you’ve kept him alive in your hearts.........

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