Dr. George W. Seuffert Sr.

George Seuffert Sr. passed away Dec. 13, 2023, in Scottsdale, Arizona, with his grandchildren holding his hands.

George was born in Brooklyn, New York. He graduated from Fordham University and New York Medical College. During his junior year, he met and married the love of his life, Ingrid. They were together for 65 years. He obtained his medical degree and went on to do an internship at the University of Virginia and a fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. He served in the Public Health Service and was stationed in Charolette, North Carolina, Staten Island, New York, and finally Anchorage, Alaska.

He arrived in Anchorage in the summer of 1967, after driving from Staten Island to Anchorage with his wife, three children, mother-in-law, and dog. George decided to stay in Alaska and go into private practice after the Public Health Service.

George was part of a team of doctors that would travel throughout Alaska doing surgical clinics for Alaska Natives. He was also one of the original members of The Heart Surgery team with doctors Arndt Von Hippel, George Rhyneer and Jim Baldauf. The first open heart surgery was done on a black bear. In case George didn't give the bear enough anesthesia, all the doctors were strapped with guns. One of his greatest honors was becoming a member of the Academy of Anesthesiology. Membership of the Academy is by invitation only and he always joked that he was invited to be a member because he was from Alaska and the only anesthesiologist that anesthetized a black bear.

After retiring from medicine, George decided to go in a totally different direction and became a gold miner. He spent the last 30-plus years mining with his son. He loved being in remote Alaska and was respected by the mining community. For many, it was beneficial having a medical professional among them. He was always willing to help them out and saved many lives over the years.

He is preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Frank; and daughter, Cynthia. He is survived by his wife, Ingrid; son, George (Anna); daughter, Laura (Jelle); grandchildren, Maria, Johan and Hans; brothers, Ed (Ginny) and Peter (Clair); and many nephews and nieces. He will be forever missed.