a retired hand surgeon died on
August 3, 2019 at the age of 79 while surrounded by his family. Earl is survived by his son Eric, daughter-in-law Marisa, brother Harvey, grandchildren Joshua, Naomi and Sonia, and wife Nancy Cetlin. He is predeceased by his first wife Kathy and his son Michael. Earl was born in Philadelphia on October 29, 1939 to Harry and Florence Fleegler. He graduated from Franklin and Marshall College in 1961 and Jefferson Medical College in 1965. He trained in general surgery at Temple University and then pursued a fellowship in plastic surgery at Allegheny General Hospital and further training in hand surgery in Arizona. He practiced his profession in Cleveland, OH from 1973 to 1995 including at the Cleveland Clinic as the division chief of hand surgery. In 1995 he and Kathy moved to Ambler, PA where he continued to practice hand surgery in private practice and as a Professor in the Department of Surgery at Rutgers University and the Newark VA. He was a world-renowned surgeon with an unparalleled experience in the treatment of hand tumors and complex hand surgery. During his career he edited the definitive book "Tumors of the Hand and Upper Limb" and wrote several journal articles and book chapters on a variety of topics in hand surgery. He was also recognized as a patient teacher of multiple generations of surgical residents. He retired in 2014. Early was a devoted father, husband and grandfather who enjoyed his life-long passion of fly fishing. He spent a lifetime designing and tying his own flies, building bamboo fly rods, traveling around the world on fishing expeditions, and painting his catches in vibrant watercolors. He was a naturalist who loved spending time outdoors. He was an observant Jew who delighted in learning about Jewish history and the Kabbalah. In his retirement, Earl greatly enjoyed spending time with his three beloved grandchildren. He will be deeply missed by his friends, family, and all who knew him. A service is scheduled for 11 A.M.. on Tuesday August 6th at Temple Beth Shalom located at 670 Highland Avenue in Needham. Burial will follow at Baker Street Cemetery located at 776 Baker Street in West Roxbury. Donations and condolences may be made in Earl's memory to either the Catskill Fly Fishing Center & Museum at https://cffcm.com or Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing at https://projecthealingwaters.org

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Published by Philadelphia Inquirer/Philadelphia Daily News on Aug. 6, 2019.

Memories and Condolences
for EARL FLEEGLER

8 Entries

David Cimperman

November 17, 2022

I was fortunate to meet Dr. Fleegler, after (as a police officer) I was shot through my right hand. Dr. Fleegler not only saved my hand, but allowed me to return to work. His bedside manner was more as a friend than a doctor. The time we spent talking (He had a love of firearms) was unprecedented.
Years later,when I visited his PA office, for a checkup, I was extremely late (coming from Cleveland), and I heard Dr. Fleegler tell his receptionist, that they would fit me in, stating "He is a friend".
That shows how good of a Man, Doctor, and Friend he was. He will be missed.

Fran Byrne

July 30, 2022

I think of Dr. Fleegler ever day of my life just by looking at my hand and seeing his excellent work. He truly was a remarkable surgeon.

A.J. Rush, MD

October 17, 2020

I'm so sorry to hear that he passed. Learning from him was one of the highlights of my residency.

Jeffery Lublin

June 27, 2020

He made the world a better place. Our younger son was born without thumbs and his hands were turned in. After talking to a doctor who wanted to remove Steve's big toes to make thumbs and another person who went through multiple graphs to try to create a thumb; we heard about Dr. Flegler at Cleveland Clinic. His solution seemed more logical than mutilating perfectly good feet or going through multiple graphs to create a useless appendage. Dr. Fleegler shortened Steve's index fingers and repositioned them. Although we never told Dr. Fleegler Steve exercised his thumbs by playing Nintendo that just came out instead of squeezing a ball; I could never imagine how things turned out when Steve was born. Steve trained as a chef at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. He was the drummer in his brother's band that toured throughout the United States, Canada and England. And he is a talented artist. None of this would have been possible without Dr. Fleegler. We just want to thank him. We were blessed to know him.

Lynn Mitra

August 5, 2019

Oh my gosh, what a loss! Kathy , Earl, my husband and I were good friends in Cleveland. We lived in the same apartment complex and became very good friends when we went through two pregnancies together. Having two very active boys each we bonded for life. I remember Earl as a kind and gentle person with a great talent. Sincere sympathy to his family, Lynn Mitra

Jeanne Bowers

August 5, 2019

Earl was a bright light that touched so many !! He was a compassionate gentle talented father husband grandfather gifted surgeon friend and so much more. The world needs more of the likes of him. We are grateful to have known him. His family lost an amazing soul ! He will live in our hearts always.
Much sympathy to the family
Our love. The Bowers and Burrell families

FMTB

August 5, 2019

What a wonderful doctor.! So sad to hear
of Dr. Fleeglers passing. I was one of his first patients at the Cleveland Clinic in October of 1978. I was a scared woman with two babies when Dr. Fleegler saved my life because I had a malignant tumor on my finger. He wrote a paper on my case. He was so caring, compassionate; the best doctor anyone could ever ask for.
Sincere sympathy to his family.

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