Milton J. Hirshberg

Milton J. Hirshberg
of Harwich, Navy Vet; 90

HARWICH -- Milton J. Hirshberg, a physician, husband, father, and grandfather, died from complications of cardiac disease and aging at his South Harwich home on December 16, 2013, at the age of 90.

Born on July 5, 1923 to Harry and Eva (Vigman) Hirshberg, Dr. Hirshberg grew up in Haverhill and graduated from the Haverhill High School in the class of 1940. He worked in retail before receiving a Congressional appointment to the United States Naval Academy by the Honorable George J. Bates of Salem. He entered July 1941 as a member of the class of '45 and was graduated "with distinction" in June 1944 (wartime shortened course).

He served as a Junior Officer aboard the U.S.S. Alaska, which joined the Pacific Fleet in the Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and mainland Japan operations. After the war he entered flight training, received his wings of gold, and joined squadron VF 10A, flying from the U.S.S. Philippine Sea.

He resigned from the Navy, and entered a medical career in the field of mental health, graduating as a doctor from the Yale University School of Medicine. He and Carolyn E. McDonald were married during his internship in Albany, NY. They then lived in Worcester, where their four sons were born. When the children were young the family enjoyed spending school vacations in South Harwich, where Peter and Mark later made their homes. Milton and Carolyn celebrated 58 years of happy marriage in 2013.

His professional career as a psychiatrist was varied, including private office practice, physician superintendent of the Florida State Hospital in Chattahoochee, developing and leading the clinical services of the Florida Mental Health Institute, Tampa, FL, leadership of the partial hospitalization program at Worcester State Hospital, treating veterans in Department of Veteran Affairs Hospitals, and during semi-retirement, taking assignments in several medical facilities in need of temporary clinical staff. In 2002, he retired from professional life.

During retirement, he was active in advocating for the welfare of the community through participation in debate before Town Meeting and at Town Hall. He was a delegate in the House of Delegates of the Massachusetts Medical Society, speaking out for the common interest in healthcare reform.

Sadly, Peter and Mark predeceased their father who leaves his wife, Carolyn; sons, Aaron and Jeffrey, Jeff's wife, Sandra, their two daughters, Jacqueline and Leslie; and his sister, Elaine Hirshberg of West Palm Beach. He also leaves a brother-in-law, Robert McDonald & his wife, Brenda of Salem, NH and many nieces & nephews. He was predeceased by his brother, Alvan Hirshberg of Cary, NC.

HIRSHBERG -- A funeral service was held on Thursday, December 19. Donations may be made to the American Heart Assoc., PO Box 3049, Syracuse, NY 13220-3049. Notes of comfort and sympathy may be made to his family at www.MorrisOConnorBlute.com