A. Robert Spitzer, MD

Dr. Alexander Robert Spitzer, יקותיאל זיסא בן משה וחיה, of Mackinac Island and Lake Leelanau, MI passed away on Friday, February 27, 2026, at the age of 70, following a courageous battle with cancer. Dr. A. Robert Spitzer devoted more than four decades to the field of neurology, integrating medicine, engineering, and innovation in a career marked by intellectual rigor and compassionate patient care. After earning his medical degree from Albert Einstein College of Medicine and completing advanced fellowship training at the National Institutes of Health, he joined the faculty of Wayne State University School of Medicine, where he served as Professor of Neurology and Director of the Electromyography and Evoked Potentials Laboratory at Harper Hospital. Board-certified in Neurology, Clinical Neurophysiology, Electrodiagnostic Medicine, and Sleep Medicine, Dr. Spitzer was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology and was recognized in Best Doctors in America. His pioneering research applied neural network analysis to electromyography and clinical neurophysiology, resulting in numerous peer-reviewed publications, grant funding, invited international lectures, and multiple U.S. patents. An engineer at heart, he brought analytical precision and creativity to every endeavor, including his passion for photography and aviation. As an educator, he developed fellowship training programs and revised curricula, mentoring generations of neurologists and advancing the field of electrodiagnostic medicine. His legacy lives on in the physicians he trained, the patients he treated, and the innovations he brought to medicine. He was preceded in death by his father, Morris Spitzer, and his mother, Hedvig Rosenthal. Dr. Spitzer married the love of his life, Loretta Helwig-Spitzer, on July 31, 2016. He is the father of Daniel Spitzer, Rebecca (Miles) Ouimette, Sarah Spitzer (Alon Glazer), Raya (Christopher) Cheesman; the grandfather of Leiyona, Ainsley, Natalie, Merrick, Tamar, Adar, Christoph; the stepfather of Kyle (Morgan Roundtree) Helwig, Aaron (Ashley) Helwig; and the step-grandfather of Amelia, Landon, and Finn. A Funeral Service, led by Rabbi Arnie Sleutelberg, will be held at 10:00 am on Sunday, March 1, 2026, at Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home, 305 Sixth St., Traverse City, MI. Burial will take place in the spring at The City of Mackinac Island Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Kehillat HaTzav Hagadol of Mackinac Island, MI, PO Box 1434. To leave a message for the family, please visit www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com.

A. Robert Spitzer, MD

August 13, 1955 - February 27, 2026