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Kenneth Desser Obituary
DR. KENNETH B. DESSER, M.D.
Dr. Kenneth B. Desser, age 75, passed away on February 17, 2016 in Phoenix.
He served as a Captain in the Vietnam War and was the recipient of the Purple Heart, Bronze Star with oak leaf cluster, Valor Device for Heroism, Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star for bravery and Combat Medical Badge for actions while serving with the first infantry division.
He was the Director of the Cardiology Fellowship Program at Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center from 1981 until his passing. While Director, more than 200 fellows graduated from the program and most chose to practice in Arizona. Dr. Desser was a Fellow of the American College of Physicians, American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association. He was a Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine and was the first member of the Phoenix Medical School faculty to receive teacher of the year and elective of the year simultaneously from the University of Arizona medical students. Dr. Desser was a senior member of the American Federation for Medical Research and served on the editorial board of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, American Journal of Cardiology and Arizona Medicine.
He authored over 300 articles and chapters in textbooks including senior author in the New England Journal of Medicine. His hobbies included bass fishing, quantum physics and military history.
Dr. Desser felt that he had the best wife in the whole world, Carmen, and loved every pet he owned with a passion. He is also survived by daughters Brett Desser, Lori Desser Holmes, son-in-law Richard Holmes and grandson Cadence Grey Holmes. Upon reflection, he said "I guess I had an interesting life."
Dr. Desser will be interred with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. Arrangements by Sinai Mortuary.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Kenneth Desser
Tali Arik
February 16, 2025
You are always in my heart.
Cadence
April 14, 2024
You were a great man, papa.
-Grandson
Tali Arik
February 20, 2023
I have many occasions to remind me of you and have gratitude. Thank you Ken.
Tali Arik
February 27, 2022
I remember you every day, with gratitude. You are on my desk with many other memorabilia.
Frank Parks
February 15, 2021
Ken was the epitome of medical knowledge , as well as having the ability to communicate complicated medical issues to his patients and lastly he was always approachable. He was a loyal friend.
Arthur Calick
September 21, 2020
At med school reunion on Zoom Kenny’s passing was noted. We were good friends sharing the trials and tribulations of going through the med school challenges but had some fun as well.
Laura Melendez-Gruetzmacher
February 17, 2019
My mentor, teacher and father figure..I think of you everyday and thank God for being part of your life. I could never repay you for the positive and instrumental lessons you taught me to be successful personally and professionally. You are missed by many but your legacy is legendary to all those whose life you touched and saved.
Love Lor.
John Baize
February 15, 2019
My wife and I only met Ken once and for a short time. I have known Carmen since the late '60s. Ken impressed me with his charm and intelligence. My wife, who is German and speaks very little English was greatly impressed that he spoke with her in German. In our visits to America, it is rare indeed, to one who can speak even a little German. We only wish we could have known him longer.
The nicest thank you letter I have ever received.
Lenny Blier
July 21, 2017
I just found out of Dr. Ken's passing yesterday while talking with Carmen about the wood flooring I had installed in their previous home on Missouri Ave.
I met Ken and Carmen in 1987 when they decided to put cherry wood floors throughout their home after seeing the same flooring I had done in another clients home who happened to be one of Dr. Ken's patients. They are without a doubt two of the nicest clients and much more than that, two of the nicest people I have had the pleasure of knowing in my lifetime. I found it so fascinating that a man of Dr. Ken's background and knowledge, that his passion in life was Bass fishing. Carmen told me that they found that much more satisfying than the typical cocktail party routine.
I had many questions about fishing and Bass Boats and they were both gracious and passionate enough about it to take the time to answer my questions. In turn they were both, especially Dr. Ken interested in my passion for boats especially Drag Boat Racing and had just as many questions about it as I did about fishing:)
Dr. Ken and Carmen were so down to earth and a pleasure to work for and get to know. I have over the years spoken many times of my fondest memories of this job and the Desser's and I am very sad to hear of Dr. Ken's passing.
My prayers are with Carmen as she takes on life without one of the nicest men I have known.
Note: At Dr. Ken's insistence that I call him Ken not Mr. Desser or Dr. Desser I settled on Dr. Ken and he was okay with that :-)
Godspeed Dr. Ken
Alan Cooper
February 29, 2016
A fantastic teacher and man who influenced the careers of so many. Thanks for everything. Rest in peace.
Herschel Richter
February 26, 2016
My condolences, I was chief of cardiology at the VA and we served together teaching cardiology fellows. The trainees admired Ken as did I. He was a terrific teacher and personality
Max Garoutte
February 26, 2016
It was with great sadness that I learned of Dr. Desser's passing. KBD was a great man and role model for the cardiology fellows whom he trained over the years. His sense of humor and gentle demeanor were uncanny. He was extraordinarily gifted and I believe that he was the most intelligent cardiologist that I have ever known. Yet, he was patient and kind to those of us who were not of similar intellect. I know that he drew great satisfaction from teaching his fellows and amazing them by correctly interpreting very complex EKG's upside down when they were hard enough to read right side up. I had many instructors over the years of medical training, but KBD was the best on many levels. He had a distinguished military career, but never boasted. We loved it when he would tell us war stories or when he would do shadow puppets on the screen while we were doing EKG reviews from slides in order to add levity to the teaching session. Carmen, we will miss your husband, but you can rest assured that he will be fondly remembered. It was an honor and privilege to know him.
Max Garoutte, MD Class of 1991
Connie Farrington
February 26, 2016
I have had the pleasure of knowing Dr.Desser over the last several years in internal medicine here at Banner University Medical Center. His presence filled the room and when he spoke you listened with interest. I especially enjoyed his commentaries at graduation, where he acknowledged his graduate fellows with humor but also a deep respect for how well they have done. His legacy is all the excellent cardiologists he prepared to care for us. Dr Desser, you will be greatly missed!
Vivian Melendez
February 23, 2016
Onf of the most amazing men I have ever met! You will be missed dearly... Thank you for all the things you have done for my family and the laughs we have shared visiting the office. Love and miss you.
Linda Kaskel Levine
February 23, 2016
I am saddened to learn of the passing of my childhood friend and 'cousin.' Rest in peace Kenny. My condolences to your wife, your children and their families, and to your niece and her family.
Sue Klumb, RN
February 23, 2016
So sorry to hear of Dr. Desser's passing. My prayers go out to his family.
Jim Fox
February 23, 2016
Dear Carmen & family:
Mary Alice and I were are deeply saddened by the news of Ken's passing. He was a very unique and enjoyable man as my doctor and friend. His expertise as a bass fisherman will never be surpassed. He was a brilliant man and I felt myself a better person by just being around him.
Family Sefton and McNamara
February 22, 2016
RIP Dr. Desser
Jane Kaskel
February 22, 2016
My "cousin" Kenny will be in my fondest of childhood memories. Thank you for rescuing me when I was lost so many years ago. Rest in peace.
Geri Ann Sefton
February 22, 2016
So very sorry to hear of Dr. Desser's passing. He took care of my mom, Jerri, for so many years. Our family has such gratitude to him for the excellent care he provided for her. My thoughts and prayers are with Dr. Desser's family. He will be missed.
Laura Melendez
February 21, 2016
Carmen, Brett and Lori my deepest condolences and love for your family. You are in my thoughts and prayers. As a young woman working side by side with him for 15 extraordinary years, Dr Desser was my mentor, father figure and teacher. The memories of those hallways, patients, staff, physicians, residents and friends will last a lifetime. He was a healer, teacher, storyteller and best friend to all that crossed his path. There is not a day in my life that I do not think about him and say thank you to God that I was blessed to be part of his life. Dr. Desser was the most influential and inspiring individual in my life. He assisted me with achieving many professional and personal accomplishments. Dr. Desser touched many lives in many different ways through medicine, education, military, fishing, friendship and family. His legacy will last for eternity. He will truly be missed but never forgotten, for his footprints are left on the many lives that he has touched. Dr. Desser you have always been my hero and I will miss you for a lifetime.
Love,
Lor
Frank Parks
February 21, 2016
It was with great sadness that I learned of Ken's demise. He was a friend and he had my greatest admiration. He was one of the most brilliant physicians I had met during our 50 plus year friendship. Carmen, please accept my condolences..Frank Parks
Jack, RN
February 21, 2016
Carmen and family,
I felt very fortunate to have met and spent time with Dr.Desser recently. He was always happy to teach anyone that showed a desire to learn and everyone respected and loved him for that generosity. One of his continuing legacies will be the care for patients and attention to detail that he imparted to the doctors, nurses and others that worked with him. Thank you for that Dr.Desser.
Ron Wilson
February 21, 2016
Dr. Desser was my parent's physician and they loved him. He helped them in many ways in addition to being their cardiologist. He was very special to our family. May he rest in peace.
Cynthia Ann Delzell
February 21, 2016
A very good doctor and a very nice man. Rest in peace. My deepest sympathy to his family.
John & Edith Baize
February 21, 2016
Dear Carmen, we send you our deepest sympathies.
Robert Colosi
February 21, 2016
Dear Carmen,Please accept our sincere condolences over your profound loss. Ken was such a good man and friend. We will miss him.Our thoughts will be with you and of him daily.
February 21, 2016
Dr Desser was the consummate bedside physician and teacher. He had a gift for listening intensively and promoting deductive thinking among the staff. Dr. Desser was respectful of nurses, their knowledge, intuition and care. I learned so much from him; he added to my knowledge base and encouraged me to teach. His legacy will last.
KLewis RN
Tali Arik
February 21, 2016
My mentor and best friend left the stage of life this week...a stage which he dominated as a Colossus, though he was of such humble gentle and generously kind manner. Though I had no interest in cardiology when I began my interniship in January 1981, after a week in April 1981 at the CCU of the "Old Good Samaritan", I fell under the spell of his pure and extraordinary genius, the hallmark of which was his photographic memory, and his ability to generate excitement from even the most simple and basic medical cases. From there began my own career in cardiology and association and friendship with the most extraordinary man I ever met, among many. It was my profound pleasure to hear from him on July 2 1986 the words "I am signing out for life" as I took over his daily hospital duties, giving him the time to focus his boundless energies on his wife Carmen and his limitless intellectual pursuits and his love of bass fishing at San Carlos lake.
He was the most exceptional professor of many in my life, and despite his decorations and honors in Vietnam, the service for which he volunteered, and countless accomplishments in medicine, never spoke of any, such was his humility, in greater proportion than his achievements. This was reflected in his medical practice. On any day in the office, Forbes 400 names could be found sitting next to those of much humbler circumstance, awaiting their 15 minutes with "the Big Guy", who kept the confidences of all, as if sealed in the vault of Fort Knox, a place where he also had seen station.
In the last three years, after his full retirement January 26 2013, in our monthly "colloquia" held at his favorite place, The Capital Grill, we explored every imaginable topic, from quantum physics to Formula One racing, Roman history to Napoleon (on both subjests of which he expert), from music to historic trivia, and more lately, the vanishing religions of the Middle East to the intricacies of Bitcoin. He was fascinated by Nobel Prize winners. He took great pride in his Jewish heritage and its accomplished personages, and was a staunch friend of Israel. Along the way, he recalled his rich and extraordinary life history, filled with colorful men and women of accomplishment and interest, and recounted the history of cardiology in Phoenix. In his last two years, nothing gave him more pleasure than his grandson Cadence, of his daughter Lori and her husband Richard. Carmen, his wife, was the rock and anchor and life partner that we should all be fortunate to have, and helped make possible the extraordinary life he enjoyed, to the fullest.
Ken, you are missed already...by your family, your pets, your students and colleagues, your friends and thousands of patients, and your country. Our world is now diminished by your absence, but our lives have been made richer and better because you touched us. Farewell, dear friend and great man. We miss you already.
Tali Arik
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