BRAASCH, John W. Surgeon and Educator Dr. John William Braasch, born December 11, 1922, passed away peacefully September 9th, 2017. Dr. Braasch was born in Rochester, MN, the third child of Dr. William F. Braasch and Nellie Stinchfield Braasch. Dr. Braasch was a graduate of Yale University (B.A. 1944), Harvard Medical School (M.D. 1946), the University of Illinois College of Medicine (M.S. in Physiology 1948), and the University of Minnesota (Ph.D. in Surgery 1955). Dr. Braasch served as a Captain in the U.S. Army during World War II. He completed his surgical residency at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN (1951-55) where his father and grandfather had successful practices in urology and internal medicine. He received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Mayo Clinic for his numerous contributions to the field of surgery. Dr. Braasch was an accomplished and respected physician, practicing for most of his career at the Lahey Clinic in Burlington, MA where he served as Chairman of the Department of General Surgery. Among many other appointments, he served as a Director of the American Board of Surgery, as President of the Boston Surgical Society, and as President of the New England Surgical Society. Dr. Braasch was a lifelong learner and educator. He founded Lahey Clinic's surgery residency program and served as the program director there for many years. He also established an internationally known Fellowship in Hepatobiliary Surgery at the Lahey Clinic. He authored numerous publications, several definitive textbooks, and held several academic appointments in the greater Boston area. Dr. Braasch was devoted to his extended family. He married Nancy King Braasch in Portland, Maine, on March 21, 1946. They raised four children and welcomed numerous visitors into their home. His extracurricular passions were tennis, bridge, and gardening. He was proud of his roses. He is survived by his children, Elizabeth B. Cech, William F. Braasch (Eugenia), Nancy B. Allen (Walter), and Peggy B. Hasley (Steve); his grandchildren, Edward, Melissa, William, Ann, Kathryn, Jane, Joseph, Mary, Bridget, Rebecca, and John; and his great grandchildren, Ryan and Harvey. John is preceded in death by his wife of 71 years Nancy King Braasch, and son-in-law Edward J. Cech. John Braasch was a friend and a mentor to countless physicians and other medical professionals. To his patients, Dr. Braasch was not only one of the best technicians in the world, but also a caring and devoted healer. He was quick with a smile and a kind word, insightful in the face of complexity, and never lost his sense of being a professional and a gentleman. He will remain an inspiration to his students, his colleagues and his family forever. A memorial service will be held at The First Parish in Lincoln on October 21st at 11 AM, reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Dr. Braasch's name to the Lahey Hospital and Medical Center, Burlington, MA. Visiting Hours: No Visitation.

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Published by Boston Globe from Sep. 16 to Sep. 17, 2017.

Memories and Condolences
for JOHN BRAASCH

2 Entries

Claudia Dickerman

September 10, 2024

Dr Braasch saved my life back in 1971. I was the victim of a seriously botched surgery at my local hospital on Cape Cod. My family took me to Lahey when I was nearly on my deathbed and Dr Braasch knew exactly what needed to be done and I was in the New England Baptist in a matter of an hour! The "fix" included several surgeries over a period of months and he was like an angel coming in to speak with me at every turn and giving me pep talks and kept my family fully advised. I think of him several times a year even now. He was a delightful man and a very skilled surgeon.

Claudia Dickerman

June 21, 2022

I was thinking of John today as I saw another surgeon for severe abdominal scaring and adhesions due to past surgeries. John saved my life after a horrifically botched gallbladder removal way back in 1972. I was virtually on death's door after the surgeon in another hospital did not admit to mistakes in his gallbladder removal. My family hired a private ambulance and had me taken to the Lahey Clinic where I was rushed in to see John. He knew immediately I needed further surgery and had me in the New England Baptist Hospital in less than an hour to do it. He had to do successive repairs and I was hospitalized for several months. I made it though due to his expertise. He was a lovely man and he even testified on my behalf later when a mal practice suit was brought against the the original surgeon who had tried to cover up his mistake and by doing so had left me to die. John was very upset about that and his expert testimony won the suit for me . I will always be grateful to him and here I am at 69 yrs old and still have an operating digestive system . God is rewarding doctors like John for sure.

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