Herbert Kaufer

Oh dear Dr Kaufer, how you will be missed. You hired me as your staff assistant at the University of Kentucky. You were a Jew, I was a Muslim . I wanted to get my masters degree, and you encouraged me to go for it. I wanted to go in the operating room to see what you did, you said `sure´. I will remember you most by the love you had for Mrs Kaufer and your boys. May you rest in eternal peace

I was a patient of Dr Kaufers mainly in the 1980s. He did many surgeries on me, mostly at UofM but a couple at University of Kentucky at Lexinghton. I was confined to a wheelchair for 13 years do to Juvenile Rhuematoid Arthritis. From age 10 to I was 23, I could not walk and he got me back on my feet. He did experimental surgery on my wrist, knees, and ankles. He did not want to do replacements because I was to young. Anyway he got me back on my feet. I have so many stories about my...

Dr. Kaufer did extensive spinal fusion on me when I was about 11 years old at Motts Children´s Hospital (in the 1970´s). He definitely made an impression on me and impacted my life. I remember him as being very kind. Fast forward more then 40 years later when I had the opportunity to see him again- just by chance. This time the tables were somewhat turned as I am in health-care and was able to sit at his bedside, hold his hand and just talk. He did not remember me (I would not expect him...

Herbert Kaufer was the greatest human being on the planet, a great father and a great grandfather and all knowledgeable in so many different things. He was one of a kind they don’t make men like that anymore. He will always be remembered

Herb was one of my mentors in the orthopaedic residency at the University of Michigan. He was patient with us although he could be a bit gruff at times. Everyone respected him and I am sure that we all carry several of his litany of aphorisms with us to this day. Great man. He will be missed.

Dr Kaufer and Jane came to UK and he hired me as his Administrative Assistant, for the Orthopedic Department. We worked together until he retired and moved back to Ann Arbor. We became not only coworkers but friends over the years. One of the funny memories I had was the staff ordering pizza and he would eat the all meat pizza with ham on it. Then he would tell everyone not to tell Jane he ate the ham. He was an excellent surgeon and UK Orthopedics grew under his guidance. He will be...

I worked with Dr Kaufer at the old Mott Hospital in the late 1970s. Worked in the OR together. He was known for saying to the tech (I was one of them) "Don't give me what I asked for, give me what I need."