DR. MAXIMILIAAN KAULBACH

Age 94, died at home, on May 16, 2025. Pioneering Cardiologist, Marblehead Youth Soccer founder and eternal optimist, Max will be deeply missed by all who knew him. Max was born in Surabaya, Indonesia. At that time, it was the Dutch East Indies and his father was a civil engineer, managing infrastructure development. His family re-settled to the Hague, Netherlands, when he was still a child, where they endured occupation in World War II. Despite the hardships of war, Max vividly recalled VE Day when American fighter jets flew over the city in liberation. Max graduated from Leiden University Medical School and with three friends ventured to New York to intern at The Brooklyn Hospital. There he met a recent nursing school graduate, Dorothy Louise Griffin, and they fell in love and married. Max continued his training at Dartmouth Medical School affiliated hospitals, before serving in the U.S. Army in Germany. Returning to the U.S.A, he completed cardiology fellowships at the Boston Children's Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, ultimately settling in Marblehead, Massachusetts. Max built a medical practice, North Shore Cardiology Associates in Salem, where he introduced new technology locally with its Coronary Care Unit, Cardiac Catheter Lab and Pacemaker Clinic. He also served as the President of the Medical Staff at Salem Hospital for two years. But his intelligence and compassion shone through in his work as a cardiologist. The impact he had on the North Shore community through the care he provided and the lives he saved was immeasurable. Always optimistic, Max was noted by peers and patients as always being one of the best and the last of his kind, "a true gentleman doctor." Max's life passion was soccer where he was a goalie in the Hague for HBS team, briefly playing on the first team against division 1 titans such as Ajax and PSV. An avid tennis and golf player, Max realized that soccer was an underdeveloped sport in Massachusetts in the 1970's. He and his wife, D.L. co-founded Marblehead Youth Soccer Association in 1976. In the early days, they registered players, coached, and packed teams in the back of station wagons. Thousands of Marblehead soccer players have since benefited from their enthusiasm and dedication to the sport. Singing was an avocation of Max's and he sang with Marblehead's Old North Festival Chorus for 30 years. In awe of the choral talent surrounding him, Max admitted it was a highlight of his year. Max was also a master storyteller and loved keeping family history alive. Annual multigenerational talent shows with skits and music directed by Max formed new family lore. With D.L., Max shared a love for international travel including frequent visits to see relatives in the Netherlands. One of his favorite trips was riding a Zundapp Bella scooter with D.L. at his back from Netherlands to Italy over the Alps. Max is survived by his wife of 67 years, D.L.; and four children, Emilie (Andrew), Fred (Lisa), Helen (Don) and Rob (Merry). He and D.L. had ten grandchildren: Oliver, Rebecca, Max, Jasia, Griffin, Cypress, Conrad, Maiah, Mariana and Jonathan. Max was a devoted grandfather who traveled to their athletic events, performances and grandparents days with pride. His final months were filled with continuous visits by family and friends, reminiscing with stories and reflections on a life well-lived. Max loved the community he found in coastal Marblehead and the scent of the sea reminded him of his younger life in the Netherlands. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Old North Church in Marblehead on June 6, at 10am. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Dr. Max Kaulbach Heart and Wellness Endowment Fund of the North Shore Medical Center, https://salemgiving.massgeneralbrigham.org He will be deeply missed by those who knew and loved him. Max proved the theory that optimists live long, happy lives.

View the online memorial for Dr. Maximiliaan KAULBACH