DR. WARREN HARLAND PEARSE

PEARSE DR. WARREN HARLAND passed peacefully from this life on November 16, 2015. The son of Harry and Frances Pearse, Warren was born in Detroit on September 28, 1927. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 62 years, Jacqueline Langan. A physician, academician, and scholar, Warren's professional life's work was the advancement of women's health care. He earned his undergraduate degree from Michigan State University and his Medical Degree from Northwestern University in Chicago. After serving two years in the Army Medical Service in Hawaii, he completed his residency at the University of Michigan, and then joined his father in Detroit practicing obstetrics and gynecology. He next practiced in Gallipolis, Ohio, and then continued his career in Omaha at the University of Nebraska Medical School where he became chairman of the Department of Ob-Gyn. In 1971 he moved to Richmond, Virginia to become Dean of Medicine at the Medical College of Virginia. In 1975 he accepted the position of Executive Director of the American College of Ob-Gyn (ACOG) where he remained until his retirement in 1993. He oversaw the organization's move to Washington, DC and, upon his retirement, ACOG's headquarters building was renamed the Warren H. Pearse building in his honor. Retirement afforded Warren the time to pursue other things he loved - boating on the Chesapeake Bay, model railroading, curling, vacationing in Wisconsin, perfecting his Danish West Indies stamp collection, and traveling the Lincoln Highway. Warren was a lover of history with special interests in WW II, Queen Victoria, and early medical history. By far, Warren's favorite pastime was cheering on his beloved Nebraska Cornhuskers. He enjoyed all types of sports and tried with some success to turn his four daughters into sports fans. He loved puns, jokes, plays on words, and limericks - some of which he read at his daughters' wedding receptions to everyone's enjoyment. Warren is survived by his four loving daughters, Kathy LaFayette (Larry) of Minneapolis, MN, Susan Miles (Joe) of Ashland, VA, Laurie Hudgins (Steve) of Blacksburg, VA, and Mara Burke (Richard) of Iowa City, IA; sister Mary Ray, brother-in-law Jack Ray, sister-in-law Connie Stanulis, 10 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. Memorials preferred to The History Library, ACOG, 409 12th Street SW, Washington D.C. 20024