DR. PAUL SCHIMERT

Paul Schimert, M.D., passed away peacefully in his home on May 27, 2011, at the age of 94. His beloved wife of 63 years, Eva Doerstling Schimert, passed away three years earlier. Dr. Schimert was born and raised in Hungary, the son of Margit Antal and Dr. Johannes Gustav Schimert. Paul Schimert joined his father and four brothers in the family tradition of medicine. He graduated in 1941 from Petrus Pazmany University School of Medicine in Hungary. Toward the end of WWII, he fled Hungary and went to Berlin, where he met his future wife while tending to civilians as a roving medic. In 1951, Paul and Eva Schimert, and their two daughters, immigrated to America. Settling in Chicago, Dr. Schimert established a practice in internal medicine, serving the immigrant community. His fellowship in 1955 at Northwestern University's Wesley Memorial Hospital ignited a lifelong passion for cardiology. Dr. Schimert had a long career at Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where he built Chicago's preeminent cardiovascular program of its time. Dr. Schimert was a true pioneer in the field of Cardiology as one of the first to perform groundbreaking procedures such as balloon angioplasty and coronary stenting. He also conducted extensive early studies in cardiac electrophysiology, having envisioned that field to have tremendous potential for cardiac interventional treatment. Dr. Schimert's most driving personal theme was the pursuit of excellence. He was known for taking on the most difficult cases, and succeeding with them. Paul Schimert had an inventive spirit, finding creative solutions to problems. He was an avid sailor who could be spotted on Lake Michigan or the Long Island Sound, pushing the limits of his sailboat and reveling in the "glorious wind". He enjoyed the hobby of wood-working, having built his own 18-foot sailboat out of mahogany wood. Dr. Schimert also maintained a lifelong pursuit in the exploration of philosophy, history, and religion. He was tremendously proud of his Hungarian heritage and often longed to return to Hungary in his later years. Paul and Eva Schimert raised five daughters, while long-time residents of Highland Park, IL. They spent their retirement years in Lyme, Connecticut, enjoying the New England outdoors, the Atlantic coast, fresh lobsters, and visits with their eight grandchildren. Dr. Schimert is survived by his children Cornelia Schimert (Bill Solodow), Catharina Schimert, Clarissa Schimert, Claudia Schimert (Brian Derrington), and Cristina Lasko (Bennett Lasko); and grandchildren Sara, Marcus and Julian Lampert, Anya and Elena Solodow, and Samantha, Isaac and Sofia Lasko. The family would like to gratefully acknowledge the exceptional care provided by his in-home caregiver, Euclin Gunness, his very supportive team of health-care providers and Dr. Kornelia Keszler. Dr. Schimert was cremated. The family will have a celebration of his life in mid-summer. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hospice Care in Westchester and Putnam, located in Tarrytown, New York, and Doctors without Borders.