SUTTONS BAY — Warren W. Cline Jr., M.D., 85, of Suttons Bay, died Sept. 27, 2009, at Munson Hospice House.
Dr. Cline was born May 14, 1924, in Cleveland, Ohio, the second son of Warren W. Cline Sr. and Hallie Thomas Cline. He lived most of his first 11 years in China, where his father was a foreign secretary with the International YMCA. The family returned to the United States in 1935 to settle in Hiram, Ohio, where he later attended college, graduating in 1948.
Warren served as a Naval Aviator during World War II and completed his operational and shipboard training in Corsair aircraft at Pensacola, Fla., in May, 1945. Following discharge, he continued to fly in the active Naval Reserve while completing college and medical school.
He graduated from Case Western School of Medicine in 1951 and completed his residency in Internal Medicine (and Cardiology) in 1955 at University Hospital and Crile Veterans Hospital of Cleveland. He became board certified in Internal Medicine in 1959.
He moved to Traverse City in 1955 to practice Internal Medicine and shared an office with his brother, Dr. T.N. "Ted" Cline, a general and vascular surgeon.
During his 34-year career at Munson Medical Center, he served on the staff in various capacities and played a leadership role in education and the development of the cardiac program at the hospital. He led the Friday noon medical conferences for many years and will be fondly remembered for encouraging prompt attendance by beginning each meeting with a joke.
In 1965 Warren helped set up the hospital-wide training program in the new techniques of cardio-pulmonary resuscitation ("code blue program"). In 1967 he was instrumental in setting up the first dedicated coronary care unit in this area and became its medical director. This unit involved new concepts of advanced nursing care.
Following a cardiology fellowship in Ann Arbor in 1972 and 1973, he returned to Traverse City as its first full-time cardiologist to set up and operate the cardiac catheterization unit. He continued in this work until his retirement in 1988.
Following his retirement, he was honored with the James Decker Munson Award for his leadership in the early development of the now widely-recognized cardiology program.
His major community activity was 20 years of service on the Board of Trustees of Northwestern Michigan College. He was particularly involved with the development of the Associate Degree Registered Nursing Program, the planning of the campus, the initiation of the aviation program and the Great Lakes Maritime Academy. He was a founding member of the Grand Traverse Yacht Club.
Warren's greatest love was for his family, and earlier in his life he was active in skiing and motorcycling with any family member he could find, taking his 85-year-old stepmother for a ride on his motorcycle. He also loved sailing, teaching his children to sail on West Bay and enjoying cruising with the late Ernie Isaacsen. Later, he enjoyed travel and flying as he and Sonja were licensed pilots. Together, they achieved their instrument flight ratings and enjoyed seeing the country in a private aircraft. Warren also had a soaring pilot's license and, in retirement, he and Sonja traveled the country by motor home.
Also in his retirement, he continued his hobby of woodworking. His major project was creating a study desk of cherry wood in the Shaker style for each of his nine grandchildren. His other loves were the Wheaten Terriers he and Sonja raised.
He married Jane Martin in Stow, Ohio, in 1947, and he and Jane had three children.
On April 2, 1971, in Traverse City, he married Sonja Ericksen Cole, with whom he shared a happy and loving relationship for 38 years.
In addition to his wife, Sonja, he is survived by his children, Warren W. "Bud" Cline, CPA (Della), David M. Cline, M.D. (Lisa), Susan C. Noble, M.D. (Walter), and stepdaughter, Patricia Cole; his sister, Charlotte Schindel; brother, Thomas L. Cline, Ph.D.; grandchildren Jill, Olivia, Paul and Joseph Cline, Brittany, David, Jack and Charlotte Noble, and step-granddaughter, Megan Morrissey.
He was preceded in death by his parents and stepmother, Helen Thomas Cline; sister, Elizabeth Meeks; and brother, Ted Cline, M.D.
Cremation has taken place and according to Warren's wishes, no formal service will be held. A celebration of Warren's life will be held Sunday, Oct. 25, from 3 to 5 p.m., at the Hagerty Center in Traverse City.
In remembrance of Dr. Cline, memorials may be directed to Munson Hospice, 1105 Sixth St., Traverse City, MI 49684; or to the Northwestern Michigan College Foundation, 1701 E. Front St., Traverse City, MI 49686.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay.
This obituary was originally published in the Record-Eagle.
