Paige Victor Sencindiver

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Paige Sencindiver Obituary

Paige Victor Sencindiver

AGE: 84 • Beach Haven

Paige Victor Sencindiver, 84, of Kennett Square, PA and Beach Haven, NJ, a retired general and thoracic surgeon and retired Lt. Commander of the U.S. Navy, died Tuesday, December 27, 2011 at his home. For nearly 60 years, Dr. Sencindiver practiced medicine at Methodist and Thomas Jefferson hospitals (1959-1984) in Philadelphia and his private office in Beach Haven, NJ. "Vic," as he was called by friends and family was born in Martinsburg, WV and graduated from Martinsburg High school (1945), West Virginia University (1948) and Thomas Jefferson Medical College (1952). He served his internship at Thomas Jefferson Hospital and served his residency under Dr. John Gibbon (1953-1959). He was a member of Dr. Gibbon's team that invented the equipment to perform open heart surgery and completed the first successful open heart surgery. Dr. Sencindiver's residency was interrupted in 1954 by service in the U.S. Navy at Green Cove Springs Naval Base in Jacksonville, Florida. He retired as a Lt. Commander and during his service received post graduate degrees in the fields of hematology and cardiovascular diseases from the University of Florida Department of Medicine. He was a member of the American College of Surgery, the Pennsylvania Society of Thoracic Surgeons, Alpha Omega Alpha Academic Honors Society and a Physician at the Philadelphia Youth Study Center. Dr. Sencindiver retired from surgery in 1984 and opened a general practice of medicine in Beach Haven, NJ. As an active Long Beach Island community member Dr. Sencindiver served as Mayor of Beach Haven; was a member, Commodore and Trustee of the Little Egg Harbor Yacht Club; was a founding member of the Long Beach Island Yacht Racing Association and a Past President of the Long Beach Island Historical Association. His many hobbies included waterfowl and wildlife carving and horticulture. Many of his carvings are found in homes in the region and many have been gifted for auction to raise funds for numerous nonprofits. His love of horticulture helped persuade him to leave Beach Haven and move to a retirement community at Kendal - near Longwood Gardens.

Surviving are his wife of 59 years, Joanne; daughters, Gretchen Vare and Mary Alison (Lissy) Condurso; sons, Michael, Christopher and Andrew; and twelve grandchildren, Billy, Mike, Sarah, Andy, Ben, Emily, Alex, Sam, Jack, Dana, Annie and Gillian, who always brought a smile to his face and a light in his eye.

Friends may visit with the family on Friday, January 6, 2012 from 2PM-4PM at the Farmhouse of the Kendal Retirement Community - 1109 E. Baltimore Pike, Kennett Square, PA 19348. A Memorial Service will also be held at Holy Innocents Church, in Beach Haven on January 7, 2012 at 2PM. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Stratford Friends School, 2 Bishop Hollow Road, Newtown Square, PA 19073. Arrangements by the Kuzo & Grieco Funeral Home, Kennett Square, PA (Phone: 610-444-4116)

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Asbury Park Press on Dec. 30, 2011.

Memories and Condolences
for Paige Sencindiver

9 Entries

Vicki Sullivan

January 12, 2012

My thoughts and prayers go out to my cousins. I know you will miss him terribly.

MaryAnne Sullivan-Scott

January 9, 2012

Heavy on my heart. No words to express my sympathy. Surely a loss for us all, yet quite a reunion for him!

David Grove

January 5, 2012

As I sit back to write what I hope could be something meaningful for the Sencindiver family, it's hard not to smile thinking about the many memories I have to draw from of “Doc Sence” and my summers spent in Beach Haven as a kid. I guess one of the fortunate bi-products of the lost contact that's inflicted by distance, time (and life in general), is that he will be forever locked in my mind's eye as that somewhat intimidating (yet always welcoming) father of my friends, Chris and Andy, during our years growing up in the 1970s and 80s.

Our summer lives revolved so much around the six block (or so) area that bordered our homes and “the club,” that it was impossible not to have countless encounters with each others families…and I think it was that kind of comfortable familiarity that may embody most what I recall about Doctor Sencindiver. Whether it was getting something fresh from his garden, helping him to roll-out his sod front lawn, or dropping in (inevitably at dinner time) and being seated and fed so swiftly that I couldn't say “no”… I always had the feeling I was part of his family (at least during the months of June-August!).

That said…he was indeed “the doctor,” and it seemed he was always there for our many injuries (mostly small, but some more formidable). Oddly, as an aside, we also imputed some of his medical knowledge onto Chris…which was clearly the product of warped teenage thinking…but, heck, Chris must have picked up something in the way of the doctor's medical acumen, right? Anyway, given that Chris' medical knowledge was in fact quite limited, it stands to reason that we'd find ourselves in front of Doctor Sencindiver, who would not hesitate to tell us we were overreacting to whatever the malady at hand happened to be.

In fact as I type this I am noticing several scars on my hands… some of which result from my time on the opposite side of the stitching needle that Doctor Sencindiver wielded so well. “Soap and Water,” he'd say…”really?” I'd reply (thinking that surely such a laceration would require something more). “Soap and water,” that was it…I cannot recall how many times I heard that from him…and now many times I have now repeated it to my own children! So in the end I guess these scars serve well as permanent reminders of my temporary time with Doctor Sencindiver and his family.

Deepest condolences from my family to all the Sencindivers…I bet even the good doctor would admit that the sorrow and pain you must now feel is too much to assuage…even for soap and water.

Peter & Laura McQuaid

January 4, 2012

Dear Chris, Liz and Extended Sence Family,

I remember how generous your parents were whenever we crashed at your place down in LBI and I know you all will sorely miss your Pop. He'll be working on decoys in Heaven and thinking about sailing on the puffy clouds up there so relish the fond memories. Our sincere condolences to the entire clan.

Patricia Haupt Hebert

January 4, 2012

We remember the Sencindiver family with lot's of affection and love. we had great times at the annual block party in Narberth, PA. he had great wit and a wry sense of humor. I know George Haupt will be glad to see him!
Warm Regards,
The George Haupt family

Bob McGrath

January 2, 2012

Vic was my physician when I lived in Beach Haven and was such a great doctor and good man. While I know he was a great surgeon, I believe he loved being the small coastal town doc as well. Vic sure knew his "stuff"!. My deepest condolences to the family.

December 30, 2011

The Fitzpatricks always looked forward to Vic getting to town and enjoying his terrific Fish Stew that we always requested. In fawn memory and love to his wonderful family.

December 29, 2011

You brought such joy and humor into our community. We will miss you, that ever present twinkle in your eye, followed always by a wry pun! We are grateful that you were blessed with Joanne and such a devoted family.
Cynthia & Don Kuespert, Coniston

ELMER PENCE

December 29, 2011

REST IN PEACE, REST IN ETERNAL PEACE OUR OLD AND VALUED FRIEND. THE JOURNEY WAS REAL
ELMER AND MARY PENCE AND FAMILY
BEACH HAVEN NEW JERSEY

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