Dr. Jurgen Herrmann

1941 - 2016

Herrmann, Dr. Jurgen Dr. Jurgen Peter Richard Herrmann, currently of Danville, CA, passed away peacefully October 19, 2016, at 8:30 PM at the age of 75 after a long battle with cancer. Dr. Herrmann, called Opa by his friends and family, was born on September 3, 1941, in Hamburg, Germany, to Dr. Richard Antonie Rudolf and Mathilde Ingeborg (Scheele) Herrmann. He grew up in Flensburg, Germany, and was the oldest of three children. Dr. Herrmann completed his medical school training in Germany and received his doctorate, summa cum laude, under the tutelage of the renowned geneticist, Professor Dr. Widikund Lentz. Dr. Herrmann was awarded a fellowship in clinical genetics at the University of Wisconsin in Madison under the well-known geneticist, Professor Dr. John Opitz. Dr. Herrmann completed a pediatric internship and residency to become a board-certified pediatrician, as well as becoming board-certified in clinical genetics and clinical cytogenetics. Dr. Herrmann was asked to join the faculty of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine in Madison as an assistant professor, then associate professor with tenure. He continued to work closely with Dr. Opitz for 11 years in patient care, teaching, and research. During this time, Dr. Herrmann became the author and coauthor of over 60 original research articles and book chapters on genetic disorders and birth defects. Dr. Herrmann married Andrea Pallister in 1969 (now divorced) and had three children. In 1978, Dr. Herrmann and his family moved to Milwaukee, WI, where he accepted an offer by the Medical College of Wisconsin to join the faculty and to create a Birth Defects Center at what is now Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. He became the Director of the Birth Defect Center and Professor of Pediatrics. Dr. Herrmann founded Great Lakes Genetics in 1982 to bring efficient academic-level genetic services directly to patients, when this was rarely available anywhere outside of a university setting. In 1985, he expanded his services to Appleton, WI. Dr. Herrmann lectured extensively in the United States, Mexico, Canada, and Europe. He is credited with discovering multiple genetically-based syndromes, including several with his father-in-law, renowned Dr. Philip Pallister. Dr. Herrmann provided genetic services and counseling to thousands of patients until he retired in 2010. Dr. Herrmann is survived by: his son Peter Lar, daughter-in-law Heather (Bailey), granddaughters Maddison, Tessa, and Lisl of Boise, ID; his daughter Inga Wren Dolezar, son-in-law Jon Dolezar, grandsons Tristan and Koen of Holly Springs, GA; and his son Simon Jake, daughter-in-law Julee (Brophy), and granddaughter Alexia of Danville, CA. He is also survived by his sisters Mischi and Brigitte, both in Germany, as well as multiple nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father Richard and mother Mathilda. The body will be cremated. There are plans for a memorial service to take place in Milwaukee, WI, at a future date to be announced. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the March of Dimes.