Robert Jay Wilder

WILDER , Robert Jay Dr. Robert Jay Wilder, MD, 82, passed away on Sunday, September 23, 2007 at his home. He was born in Newark, NJ and has been a resident of Fort Pierce, FL for the past 9 years, formerly of Baltimore and Oklahoma City. He served in the United States Army during World War II and received a purple heart. In 1952 Dr. Wilder graduated from Columbia Medical School, where he received his doctorate degree. He interned at Mt. Sinai Medical Center. From 1956 through 1963, Dr. Wilder practiced medicine at the Baltimore City Hospitals and Johns Hopkins Medical Center, serving as Assistant Chief of Surgery and Assistant Professor at Johns Hopkins University. During this time he also served as President of the American Heart Association. While in Baltimore, he pioneered the use of pacemakers and was responsible for the second successful pacemaker implantation. He also established Vascular Surgery at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore. From 1977 through 1986 Dr. Wilder was a Professor of Surgery at the University of Oklahoma City Hospital. In 1986 he and his wife moved to the Virgin Islands where he was the Chief of Emergency Medicine and Trauma. From 1989 until his retirement in 1994, he was the head of the Surgical Emergency Medicine Department at Jackson Memorial Hospital. Following his retirement, he remained active in the medical field teaching at the Florida Keys Community College and was Medical Director of Medical Air Services. Survivors include his wife of 25 years, Butz Wilder; daughter and son-in-law, Lori and Bob Hollander of Owings Mills, MD; stepson Rick Poloway and his partner, Chuck Rounds of Burkittsville, MD; stepson Bill Poloway and his wife Win, of Sedona, AZ and three grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, Paul Steven Wilder and his daughter, Harriet Jane Wilder. Memorial contributions may be made to the Treasure Coast Hospices, 2500 Virginia Avenue, Suite 202, Fort Pierce, FL 34981. Friends are welcome to call and visit Dr. Robert Jay Wilder, MD, 82, passed away on Sunday, September 23, 2007 at his home. He was born in Newark, NJ and has been a resident of Fort Pierce, FL for the past 9 years, formerly of Baltimore and Oklahoma City. He served in the United States Army during World War II and received a purple heart. In 1952 Dr. Wilder graduated from Columbia Medical School, where he received his doctorate degree. He interned at Mt. Sinai Medical Center. From 1956 through 1963, Dr. Wilder practiced medicine at the Baltimore City Hospitals and Johns Hopkins Medical Center, serving as Assistant Chief of Surgery and Assistant Professor at Johns Hopkins University. During this time he also served as President of the American Heart Association. While in Baltimore, he pioneered the use of pacemakers and was responsible for the second successful pacemaker implantation. He also established Vascular Surgery at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore. From 1977 through 1986 Dr. Wilder was a Professor of Surgery at the University of Oklahoma City Hospital. In 1986 he and his wife moved to the Virgin Islands where he was the Chief of Emergency Medicine and Trauma. From 1989 until his retirement in 1994, he was the head of the Surgical Emergency Medicine Department at Jackson Memorial Hospital. Following his retirement, he remained active in the medical field teaching at the Florida Keys Community College and was Medical Director of Medical Air Services. Survivors include his wife of 25 years, Butz Wilder; daughter and son-in-law, Lori and Bob Hollander of Owings Mills, MD; stepson Rick Poloway and his partner, Chuck Rounds of Burkittsville, MD; stepson Bill Poloway and his wife Win, of Sedona, AZ and three grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, Paul Steven Wilder and his daughter, Harriet Jane Wilder. Memorial contributions may be made to the Treasure Coast Hospices, 2500 Virginia Avenue, Suite 202, Fort Pierce, FL 34981. Friends are welcome to call and visit with the family to celebrate Robert's life and share memories.