Milton Weinberg Jr. MD

Milton Weinberg M.D. - Pioneer of Cardiothoracic Surgery
Milton Weinberg, Jr. MD, 101, a pioneering cardiothoracic surgeon whose career spanned the transformative early decades of open-heart and vascular surgery, passed away on October 15, 2025, peacefully at his home in Lake Forest IL surrounded by his family. He was born in Sumter, SC on August 8,1924, the son of the late Dr. Milton Weinberg, Sr. and Ethel Harper Weinberg. He recalled many times that it was expected that he would follow his father into the practice of medicine. When Milton was 11 years old, his father suffered a debilitating heart attack. This event made a great impression on Milton and meant that he had to work from a very young age to help his mother provide for his family, which included his two younger sisters, Ethel "Monkey" W. Flynt and Rosa W. Schwartz, both of whom predeceased him.
After graduating from Edmunds Hight School in 1941, Dr. Weinberg enrolled as a premed student at Duke University. With the US entry into World War II, he entered the US Navy's V-12 program which was designed to provide officers for the Navy, including doctors. The Navy would pay for school in exchange for an indeterminate term of service after graduation. He completed undergraduate studies on an accelerated basis in 1943 and medical school in 1947 when the Navy was undergoing post-war demobilization.
Released from his obligation, Dr. Weinberg started his residency in pathology and surgery at The Medical College of South Carolina. His residency was interrupted by the outbreak of the Korean War. Dr. Weinberg immediately volunteered for military service out of a sense of obligation. He was commissioned as a Captain in the US Army Medical Corps arriving in Korea in late 1950 and assigned as a surgeon in the 8055 Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH), an experience that shaped both his technical skill and nurtured his lifelong commitment to the care of the sick and wounded.
In order to quickly provide critically wounded soldiers with lifesaving surgery, MASH units were placed near the front lines and received patients transported by helicopter. The 8055 MASH had a 97% survival rate of wounded soldiers who arrived alive. Dr. Weinberg took great pride in the dedication and professionalism of the doctors, nurses and support personnel in the 8055 MASH, who worked tirelessly for long hours under trying circumstances. He disdained the depiction of MASH in the TV series because he found it disrespectful to the staff and to the families of all the patients he received there. Dr Weinberg was promoted to major during his tour of duty and awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service during combat operations.
Following his return, Dr. Weinberg was encouraged to visit Dr. Egbert Fell in Chicago to learn of Dr. Fell's early work in vascular and cardiac surgery. Milton joined Dr. Fell as a cardiac fellow. Dr. Fell's mentorship and their friendship inaugurated an era of great commitment and creativity by Dr. Weinberg in providing surgical repairs for congenital as well as acquired cardiac and vascular diseases. He performed some of the first open-heart procedures using cardiopulmonary bypass at Chicago's Cook County and Presbyterian (now Rush University Medical Center) hospitals. He helped to establish the thoracic surgical residency program at Cook County Hospital in 1965. Even after leaving Cook County Hospital, Dr. Weinberg continued to care for and operate on any infant or child with a congenital heart defect born at Cook County Hospital. David Monson, MD completed a cardiothoracic fellowship in Chicago and became Dr. Weinberg's partner in medical practice. They became known for their diligence in postoperative care and excellent outcomes in both pediatric and adult open-heart surgical patients. The Weinberg family is grateful for Dr. Monson's faithful friendship and partnership over many wonderful years. After retiring from his medical practice at Rush University Medical Center, Dr. Weinberg served as Chairman of the Department of Surgery, Lutheran General Medical Center, Park Ridge, IL from 1989-1994.
Milton met his wife of 69 years, Joan Ehrenstrom Weinberg RN, at Presbyterian Hospital where she was Head Nurse on one of its medical-surgical units. They moved to Evanston, IL to raise their family of three daughters. Joan joined Milton in working diligently to raise funds for improved patient care and shared his commitment to the many hours he devoted to his patients. Over the years Milton became an accomplished fly fisherman and photographer of birds. Milton had a close relationship with each of his grandchildren and sent all, from the time they were toddlers, a book every month to encourage their reading. He took delight in taking them on fishing trips to Alaska and Canada.
Milton is survived by Joan Weinberg, their three daughters, Caryl Weinberg, Susan Swackhamer (Gregg) and Amy Jensen (Judd), four grandchildren, (Matthew Milton Jensen (Rohana), Eric V. Jensen ( Paola), Emily Swackhamer and Mary Swackhamer (Nick) and three great grandchildren, Isaiah, Logan and Mila.
A private memorial service will be held at Memorial Park Cemetery on October 25, 2025. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Milton Weinberg's life was a testament to hard work, curiosity, faith in God, and love for family. He often, almost daily, expressed his gratefulness for all that God had given him.
Courtesy obituary of Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad Street, Sumter, (803) 775-9386.