Dr. Elliot Louis Rank

Dr. Elliot Louis Rank, of Pikesville, MD, passed away on Sunday, November 30th, 2025, at the age of 77 after a courageous fight with pancreatic cancer. He is survived by his loving wife, Rena Landes Rank; devoted children, Samuel J. (Leslie G.) Rank, Alisa B. (Jon A.) Murstein and Benjamin N. (Melissa M.) Rank; beloved siblings, Jackie Sadoff and Rabbi Perry (Ellen) Rank; dear sisters-in-law, Rebecca M. Landes, Bryna Landes and Tamar L. Landes as well as dear brothers-in-law, Dr. Steven Rapaport and Joshua Landes; adored grandchildren, Aaron J. Rank, Caleb A. Rank, Ethan S. Rank, Madyson I. Murstein and Zara Y. Murstein; and beloved mother-in-law, Sora E. Landes. He was predeceased by his caring brother; Sherwin Rank; loving parents, Hannah and Samuel N. Rank; beloved father-in-law, Rabbi Aaron Landes; and dear brother-in-law, Harold Sadoff.

Born and raised in Minneapolis, MN on September 4, 1948, Elliot was a proud graduate of Northside High School. He went on to earn both his B.A. Cum Laude and Ph.D. in Medical Microbiology from the University of Minnesota, later completing a fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX. Elliot’s extraordinary career spanned decades and cities, including Quest Diagnostics, Becton Dickinson Pharmaceuticals, and St. Luke’s Beth Israel. He also held important leadership positions at Mount Sinai Hospital in Hartford, CT and Bronx Lebanon Hospital in New York, NY. After 9/11, he directed the New York City Department of Health Bio-Threat Response Laboratory where he was responsible for testing samples to determine bioterror potential. A prolific researcher, Elliot authored more than 100 publications and taught courses at the University of Hartford and the University of Connecticut. Across every role, what he cherished most was guiding physicians with precision and care, ensuring that each patient received the best possible treatment - approaching every case as if it were for a member of his own family. His work contributed to saving countless lives, a legacy he carried with humility.

Elliot met the love of his life, Rena, on a blind-date fix-up, and the two enjoyed almost 43 years of marriage. Together they built a warm, loving home defined by dedication, laughter, curiosity, and unwavering support. Elliot’s greatest pride was his family, whom he considered his life’s greatest accomplishment.

A man of wide-ranging interests, Elliot enjoyed reading nonfiction, fishing, being on the water, genealogy, traveling, continually challenging himself with new classes and knowledge, and cooking - especially his homemade pickles, corned beef, chicken soup, and what many considered to be “the world’s best gin and tonic”. He loved crossword puzzles, sudoku, creating computer databases, and he was always ready with a good joke or eager to hear one. He was a longtime member of the American Society for Microbiology and remained intellectually curious throughout his life.

Elliot will be remembered as a fine and humble man who made life better for everyone around him. He always put both his family and Rena’s family first, doing whatever he could to be helpful. His humor, warmth, and perseverance left a lasting impression wherever he went. Despite his many talents, he always insisted, “I just read a lot,” and when faced with a challenge, he approached it with his signature optimism: “Let’s give it the old college try.” He encouraged his children to believe in themselves, to say “I can do the job,” and he lived those values every day. Elliot was a wonderful father, mentor, husband, and friend, and his memory will continue to inspire all who knew and loved him.

Services at Sol Levinson's Chapel, 8900 Reisterstown Road, Pikesville, MD 21208, on December 1st at 10:00 AM. Interment at Roosevelt Memorial Park, Trevose, PA at 2:00 PM. Please omit flowers. Contributions in his memory may be sent to Beth Tfiloh Congregation, 3300 Old Court Road, Pikesville, MD 21208 or Beth Sholom Congregation, 8231 Old York Road, Elkins, PA 19027 or Beth David Synagogue, 20 Dover Rd, West Hartford, CT 06119. The family will be in mourning at 5 Keyser Woods Ct. Pikesville, MD. Details can be found at the Sol Levinson website.