Photo courtesy of Lorne and Sons Funeral Home - Delray Beach
Delray Beach, Florida
Nov 18, 1924 – Mar 20, 2015 (Age 90)
John H. Laragh, MD, 90, of Village of Golf, passed away on March 20, 2015. Born in Yonkers NY, he graduated from Cornell University Medical College then trained in medicine at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons where he became a world renowned clinician-scientist. By observing his patients, identifying key medical questions, and applying scientific rigor, he showed that renin, a kidney hormone, can cause human hypertension, and that blocking it can control high blood pressure. This led to the development of two new hypertensive drug classes: angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers. These drugs revolutionized the treatment of hypertension, diabetes, kidney disease and cardiovascular disease. His discoveries led to a cover story in Time Magazine in 1975. John was founding President of the American Society of Hypertension and founding Editor-in-Chief of the American Journal of Hypertension. He crossed the traditional boundaries of medicine as Chief of Nephrology at Columbia P&S, then Chief of Cardiology at Weill Cornell Medical College. He was a generous mentor - warm hearted with boyish charm who liked to sing and whistle around these prestigious institutions. He inspired generations of clinician-scientists to become leaders world wide. His patients became his friends, and they supported his research and encouraged his passion for golf. This visionary, yet humble man brought the treatment of hypertension and cardiovascular disease into the 21st century, thereby improving innumerable lives. Dr Laragh was 90 years old. He was predeceased by his mother Grace Coyne and father Henry Laragh. He is survived by his wife and collaborator Dr Jean Sealey, his sons John and Robert, daughter-in-law Marci and granddaughter Eliana.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, March 25, 2015, 10AM at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 10935 South Military Trail, Boynton Beach, FL 33436
Contributions in his name can be made to Doctors Without Borders Click Here to Donate or The Salvation Army Click Here to Donate.
Lorne & Sons Funeral Home, (www.LorneandSons.com) , Delray Beach in charge of arrangements.
Dear Dr. Sealy and family it was my great privilege to have collaborated with Dr. L over many years with several pharmaceutical research oriented firms. We shared many good times with he and you as well. The very best, other then learning from this wonderful gifted gentlemen was being able to tee it up John and Rob at Doral. May God Bless you and yours.
charles vaughn
April 20, 2016 | Champaign, IL
My most sincere condolences as we will all miss the teacher and path finder that John was to all those who labor in the treatment of hypertension and cardiovascular disease.
Carlos M Ferrario, MD
November 23, 2015 | Wilmington, NC
My heartfelt and deepest condolences to the greatest hypertension researcher and clinician America and the world has produced inspiring doctors from all over the world in the struggle for the conquest of greatest threat to mankind, i.e. High Blood Pressure. We are where we are now.
Cesar Gallito Yu FACP
October 02, 2015 | Mount Vernon, IL
Dear family, we would like to express our sympathy to the Dr. John Laragh family and immediately family members. I am a cousin through my mom, the Late Mary J. Laragh, daughter of Russell A. and Arline Helen Gridley. My mom spoke highly of Dr. Laragh repeatly when I was a child and I received the Time Magazine from her after her death the story about Dr. Laragh and his work on Hypertension. Never met him but knew through my mom.
Mark Falso
August 25, 2015 | Liverpool, NY
Please accept my condolences for your loss, Dr. Sealey. I extend my deepest sympathy to you and Robert.
Fran Regan
August 01, 2015 | New York, NY
My deepest sympathy to the Laragh Family.
My first job was working at the Hypertension Center and I will never forget those days. He was a pioneer in his field.
Lena Marra
April 21, 2015 | NY
Please accept my sincere condolences during this time of your loss. Those who die God keeps in his memory because they are precious in his eyes. (Psalms 116:15)
March 27, 2015
Dear Jean,
I just learned of the passing of Dr. Laragh and was so saddened. He was a wonderful friend to my father for many, many years. I know you both saw my Dad just days before he passed, so a belated thank you for that as well. Our thoughts and prayers are with you Jean.
Fondly, Lisa Wilson Aulet and family
March 26, 2015
We mourn the passing of our good friend and colleague Dr. John H. Laragh, an outstanding physician, scientist and aspiring golfer. We offer our condolences to his wife Dr. Jean Sealey, his sons John and Robert, daughter-in-law Marci, and granddaughter Eliana.
The Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center
March 25, 2015
