MAURICE JOHN JURKIEWICZ

MAURICE JOHN

JURKIEWICZ, DDS, MD

Dr. M. J. "Josh" Jurkiewicz died May 29, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. He was an extraordinary and well-known educator, surgeon, husband, father and grandfather. Born in Claremont, NH in 1923 to Charles Basil and Mary Josephine (Ostrowska) Jurkiewicz, immigrants from occupied Poland, he was raised in Bellow's Falls, VT. He married Mary deForest Freeman (deceased) in 1951. He is survived by their two children and their families, Beth and David Wilson of Norcross, GA and Chris Jurkiewicz and Sally Wanamaker of Fairfield, CT; two grandchildren, Colin Josh Wilson and Lucy deForest Jurkiewicz, and by three siblings. In addition, he is survived by his legacy of patients, students, residents, associates and friends whose lives were forever changed by his fundamental joy of life and education.

Dr. Jurkiewicz graduated Magna Cum Laude D.D.S. from the University of Maryland in 1946, and from Harvard Medical School in 1952. In 1959, after General and Plastic Surgical residencies at Barnes Hospital at Washington University in St. Louis, he came to the new University of Florida School of Medicine as Chief of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and in 1964 instituted its residency program in Plastic Surgery. His intellect, charisma, and surgical skills made him a legendary teacher and led a large number of surgery residents to become plastic surgeons.

In 1971 he left Florida for Atlanta, where he served as Chief of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery at Emory until 1993. During those years in those two programs he educated some 100 Residents and Fellows, whose many and varied contributions to Surgery and Plastic Surgery are a part of his legacy. As Professor of Surgery Emeritus at Emory University he continued to play an active role in the education of medical students, residents and associates until his death.

He is the only plastic surgeon to serve as President of the American College of Surgeons. Among many other positions he was consultant at Walter Reed Hospital and the Shriners' Hospitals. He served on the National Board of Medical Examiners, the Residency Review Committee for Plastic Surgery, the American Board of Plastic Surgery, as President of the American Association of Plastic Surgeons, the American Society of Head and Neck Surgeons, and vice-president of the Southern Surgical Association. In 1990, he became an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and in 2004, an Honorary Fellow of the Southern Surgical Association.

A memorial service will be held June 17, 2011 at 1:00 pm at St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church, 7171 Glenridge Dr, NE Atlanta.

Donations to The University of Florida Foundation designated for the University of Florida Jurkiewicz Professorship in Reconstructive Plastic Surgery would be most appreciated.