This Philly M.D. Had “So Much Fun” in Havemeyer Hall Labs

Dr. Peter Fumo ’83 is a nephrologist in private practice in Philadelphia. He is the chair of medicine and chief of nephrology at Chestnut Hill Hospital, a community hospital owned by Temple University. Fumo lives in Horsham, Pa., with his wife, Susan, and three children; daughter Julia is a pre-med sophomore at Franklin and Marshall, her twin brother, Peter, is at Pennsylvania College of Technology, and Fumo’s youngest son, Matthew, is now applying to colleges, with his first choice being Columbia!

What were you like when you arrived at Columbia?

I was intimidated, to be honest, having grown up in a small New York suburb, now about to start at this famous Ivy League school in Manhattan. My father dropped me off at 116th Street for Orientation with a “Good luck, son” goodbye. I remember registering and getting my freshman Class of 1983 beanie, which I still have. Fortunately, I ran into another lost soul, Peter Marullo ’83, who became one of my closest friends.

What do you remember about your first-year living situation?

Initially I had to commute, then I was placed in the School of Nursing dormitory, which suited me fine, as it was quiet, clean and every room a single. I have stronger memories of the “board,” being on the John Jay meal plan. If you did not like the main offerings for dinner, you could have a hamburger. I had a hamburger every night except Thursdays, when they served fried clam strips — I wasn’t about to turn that down! I ended up gaining 10 pounds my freshman year. I do remember a heavy-set, eccentric professor who would eat in the John Jay Dining Hall, and every night he would study the posted menu like he was eating at Lutèce. I always thought that funny, given the offerings at that time.

What Core class or experience do you most remember, and why?

I loved the Core Curriculum, as it exposed me to courses I never would have taken as a chem major. I still have books from CC and Lit Hum on my bookshelf. In fact, during the last 10 years I have gone back and read all of Montaigne’s essays, as well as the Marx and Lenin anthologies. My Lit Hum teacher was a philosophy graduate student, Dan Lloyd, and he was outstanding. My favorite book was Rabelais’ Gargantua and Pantagruel, which was vulgar and hysterical. I could not believe a classic piece of literature could be so graphic and outrageous!

Did you have a favorite spot on campus, and what did you like about it?

My favorite place to study was the Avery Library, just a beautiful, quiet and classic college library. I spent a lot of time in Havemeyer Hall in the labs as a chem major under the supervision of Ronald Breslow, my favorite professor and a man I idolized as an undergraduate. I also became good friends with a graduate student named Lisa, who taught me a great deal. I had so much fun working there.

What if anything, about your College experience, would you do over?

I should have spent more time exploring Manhattan. I don’t have any regrets about the courses I took. As I mentioned, I really enjoyed all my Core classes, and they made me a much more well-rounded student. I am extremely proud of the education I received at Columbia. My only regret was that I wish I could have been a bit less grade-conscious so that I could enjoy the learning for its own sake, but that is on me.