Joseph Oppenheim

JOSEPH OPPENHEIM

PAWLEYS ISLAND, S.C. — Joseph McCoy Oppenheim, M.D. age 92, died Sunday, November 30, 2014 at The Lakes at Litchfield.

He was born in Coldwater, Ohio, on November 28, 1922, son of Joseph Anthony and Anna McCoy Oppenheim. He was predeceased by his wife, Evelyn Frances, when they were living in Lima, Ohio. He is survived by a son, Joseph Charles and wife, Diane (Gott) Oppenheim of Buffalo, Grove, IL; and a daughter, Diane Oppenheim of Western Springs, IL., her son, Anthony Joseph Malone and his son, Luca.

He and Jo Ruth (Focht) Sprang were married in 1975. He very kindly shared her blended family, of a daughter, Lynette Ruth and husband, Dr. James Fleming of Decatur, IL; a daughter, Cynthia Kay and husband Mark Tieken of Brownsburg, IN; a son, Paul Nelson and wife, Dianne Lynn of charlotte, NC; 13 grand/step grandchildren and 11 great grand/step grandchildren.

Surviving him are a brother, Jerome, and his wife, Pauline Oppenheim, of Palos Verdes Estates, CA., and a sister in law, Dolores Oppenheim of Oceanside, CA. He was predeceased by a brother, Thomas and two sisters, Myra Ruth Oppenheim Nolan and Barbara Ann Oppenheim Weyenberg.

Dr. Oppenheim earned all his graduate and post graduate degrees from Northwestern University, Evanston and Chicago, IL: a BS in 1944, ABM in 1945 Phi Beta Sigma and Phi Beta Kappa; an M.D. Degree in 1948. He was a diplomat of the American Board of Surgery and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He served as a Captain in the U.S. Army Medical Corp. 1952-1954. During his tenure of surgery, he held numerous official positions among them; delegate to the Ohio State Medical Association, Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery at the Medical College of Ohio at Toledo, Ohio, and two year term as President of the Lima and Allen County Academy of Medicine; President of Staff at St. Rita's Hospital and Lima Memorial Hospital. He was active in many community civic organizations serving either as board member or as president.

His life was dedicated to the challenge of Emily Dickinson: "If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain. If I can ease one life the aching, or cool one pain, or help one fainting robin unto his nest again, I shall not live in vain."

Upon retiring in 1986, he and Jo moved to Conway, SC area to enjoy the temperate climate and much golf. He worked on various neighborhood committees. They relocated in 1991, to the Lakes at Litchfield, Pawleys Island, SC. During these pleasant years of retirement, he generously used his extensive medical knowledge to help family, friends and neighbors.

A private Funeral Mass for the family will be held at the Precious Blood of Christ Catholic Church in Pawleys Island, SC.

Memorial gifts may be made to the charity of your choice.

An online guestbook is available at www.goldfinchfuneralhome.com/obituaries.

Goldfinch Funeral Home, Beach Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.