Dr. Joseph Theodore Gohmann

GOHMANN, DR. JOSEPH THEODORE, 92, of Portsmouth, passed away quietly at 3:38 p.m. July 1, 2010 at the Hospice facility with his family around him.

Dr. Gohmann was born in New Albany, IN on March 4, 1918, to the late Frederick John Gohmann and Emma Margaretha Schlosser.

He graduated from New Albany High School, the University of Louisville and the University of Louisville School of Medicine. While in medical school he was inducted into AOA, the scholastic honorary. He served as a captain with the U.S. Medical Corps. for two years during World War II. He was assigned to the 137th Evacuation Hospital in northeastern France and eventually served in the Philippines during his second year. Upon his return from duty, he took his residency in pathology at Louisville General Hospital. He was accepted and completed a fellowship in cancer study at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital in New York, NY.

In 1951 Dr. Gohmann and his family arrived in Portsmouth having been hired as the first board certified pathologist in southern Ohio by Mercy Hospital. He went on to develop the laboratory departments at Portsmouth General Hospital, Smith-Everett Hospital and Southern Hills Hospital. During the beginning of the computer era Dr. Gohmann was a pioneer of the medical computer and the programming used. He developed software that changed the concept of reporting results and in making diagnoses. At this time, as well as managing three hospitals laboratories, he had established a private laboratory service corporation. He retired from practice in 1990 at the age of 72.

Always a leading force for quality and ethics in medicine, he formalized and organized the then loosely run county medical society that existed when he came to the city, becoming the President for two successive terms. He was a pilot for many years, owning a plane and belonging to the American Association of Physician Pilots.

He is survived by his wife, Doris Herbold Gohmann, whom he married on November 1, 1944, with his brother, Father Conrad Gohmann, officiating the ceremony; a son, Frederick J. (Krista) of Portsmouth; three daughters, Sandra J. White (George) of Portsmouth, Rebecca J. Bechhold (Christopher) of Cincinnati, and Jennifer R. Duff (Samuel) of Dublin, OH. He has eight grandchildren, Margaret E. White-Meridian of Woodbridge, VA., Adam J. White (Carrie) of Lewis Center, OH, Emma E. Gohmann of Portsmouth, Christina M. Bechhold and Claire M. Bechhold of New York, NY., James J., Aaron G. and Henry J. Guilkey all of Dublin, OH. He also has two great grandchildren, Annie Piper White and Peter Theodore White-Meridian.

Dr. Gohmann was especially admired by his family and friends for his character, integrity, his love of learning and all new things technological. He will be much missed.

Visitation will be held Tuesday evening, July 6, 2010 from 5-7 p.m. at F. C. Daehler Mortuary Company in Portsmouth, OH. A funeral service will be held Wednesday, July 7, 2010 at 11 a.m. at Daehlers, conducted by Father Theodore Machnik. Interment will be in Greenlawn Cemetery in Portsmouth.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to SOMC Hospice Center, 2201 25th Street, Portsmouth, OH 45662 of The Southern Ohio Museum, 825 Gallia Street, Portsmouth, OH 45662.