Joseph C. Darin

Darin, Joseph C., M.D. Dr. Joe Darin was born and raised in Hurley and graduated from Hurley High School in 1947. He received his undergraduate and graduate medical education at Marquette University. He finished his surgical training in 1960. His first clinical appointment was Chief of General Surgery at the Wood V.A. Hospital in Milwaukee. In 1961, he joined the Army and was assigned Chief of the Trauma Study Branch at the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. In 1962, he assumed command of the 47th Field Hospital in the Philippines. After completing his Army service, he returned to Milwaukee and joined the surgical faculty at the Medical College of Wisconsin. His initial clinical and research efforts were in the area of liver disease. He developed an extracorporeal hepatic support system utilizing human cadaver and goat/pig livers. This work lead to his development of whole blood exchange transfusion as a mode of therapy for unique conditions with high mortality rates. Exchange transfusion was successful in the treatment of Reyes Syndrome and TTP. In 1972, Dr. Darin's interests turned to emergency medical services (EMS). He established the Milwaukee County Paramedic Program which brought sophisticated medical treatment to patients. He started Flight For Life, the first aeromedical service in our State, and developed the Level 1 Trauma Center at Froedtert Hospital. Under his direction, the only Emergency Medicine Residency Program in the State was established. From 1972-1993, he was Chairman of the Medical College of Wisconsin's Department of Trauma and Emergency Medicine. In July 1992, a separate academic Department of Emergency Medicine was approved, and Dr. Darin served as its first Chair. In 1977, Dr. Darin was elected President of the Medical Society of Milwaukee County. During his career, he was awarded over $3.5 million in research and development grants. One of these grants allowed Dr. Darin to propose, plan and implement advanced E.M.S. systems in the Polish cities of Warsaw, Poznan, Krakow, Bialystok and Lodz. Dr. Darin retired from the Medical College of Wisconsin in 1994 as Professor Emeritus of Surgery and Emergency Medicine. Following retirement, he served the State of Wisconsin for three years as its first EMS Medical Director. Dr. Darin enjoyed retirement with his wife of 41 years, Patty, in their condominium in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. He has two children, Jane (Curtis) Manning and William (Peg), with his first wife Jerane, who died of a brain tumor while he was in the Service. He and Patty have three additional children, Diana (Gary) Kilponen, Tricia (Kevin) Baier and Joe II. They have seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Also survived by one brother, Lu Darin of Hartford, 4 nephews and families, 3 brothers-in-law and 3 sisters-in-law. He enjoys his hobbies of building model sail ships, stamp collecting and cooking. His motto was "Carpe diem" - - seize the moment - - as long as it could wait until tomorrow. Visitation Friday, November 10 at the funeral home from 4PM until 8:30PM. Relatives and friends may join the family for the Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday, 11AM at St. John Vianney Church, Brookfield. Committal Services to follow at Wisconsin Memorial Park. Sympathy Expressions & Directions www.beckerritter.com BECKER RITTER Michael Feerick Associate 14075 W. North Ave. (262)782-5330