EDWARD MUECKE

MUECKE--Edward C., M.D., age 92, died peacefully on August 29, 2023, at his home in Quogue, New York. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Reed College, and graduate of Cornell University Medical College where he was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha honor society, Dr. Muecke began his career as a clinical physician and researcher in the field of urology completing an internship and residency at New York Hospital and earning a fellowship from the Carnegie Institute. After serving a two-year tour of duty in the United States Army Medical Corps where he held the rank of Captain, Dr. Muecke returned to academia where he pioneered new surgical techniques in embryological urology. His published research in The Journal of Urology has been cited over 140 times. Dr. Muecke held the office of Chief Surgeon and Head of Urology at New York Hospital before leaving to launch his private practice, New York Urological Associates. Upon his retirement at age 85, he was granted the title of Professor of Clinical Urology Emeritus by the Joan & Sanford I. Weill Medical College of Cornell University. Dr. Muecke was born in Coburg, Germany to parents Maria M. (Dettmar) Muecke and H. Hugo Muecke, of Portland, OR. Dr. Muecke was the grandson of Gottlieb August Eduard Muecke, a former diplomat for the Habsburg crown who became a naturalized US citizen, pioneered hops farming in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, and was one of the founding members of San Francisco's Bohemian Club. An avid mountaineer and alpine skier, Dr. Muecke honed his outdoors skills in the Pacific Northwest Cascades and, later, in the Austrian and Swiss Alps. Dr. Muecke is survived by his beloved wife, Virginia Marie Robertson Muecke, of Westchester, NY, whom he married in 1975. Beloved father of Joan Christiana Muecke (deceased), Anne Muecke Somlyo, and William Edward Muecke, his children with Dr. Joyce C. Shaver-Hitchings, M.D. (divorced, deceased). Cherished grandfather of Frank, Juno, and Samantha Gerolmo, Edania Liptzin, Liam, Cecilia, and Matheo Muecke, and Katherine and Andrew Somlyo. Loving father-in-law to Diane Feeney, Chris Gerolmo and David Somlyo (divorced). A brilliant mentor and dauntless optimist, Dr. Muecke was a bedrock of support to his family. Adored by those who knew him for his immense knowledge of history and science, his bottomless cheer and goodwill, his enchanted imagination, his magical storytelling, and his infectious humor. His joy for life and for people was boundless. We will miss his warm, unconditional love, his constant encouragement, his eager enthusiasm, his entertaining antics and tales of youthful naughtiness, his delight in his grandchildren, his Homunculus stories, his many character voices and silly songs, his love for animals - especially for cocker spaniels, Magee and Snoopy, and for Pumpkin the Cat, his legendary feats (mostly true), his detailed knowledge of obscure historical fact (again, mostly true), his wide-ranging enjoyment of music from Mozart to Neil Diamond to Loretta Lynn, the nickname suffix of "- bear" for his children, his fatherly admonishment to stand up for oneself and not hide behind his skirts, his family trips in the blue Chevy Nova to Williamsburg and to find covered bridges, his original and mostly successful recipes, and his architectural genius and delight in DIY projects that led to many magical gingerbread house extravaganzas and to the creation of a large-scale model train village in his basement. Most of all we will miss his jolly laughter, the always-bright twinkle in his eye, his indelible Old-World accent, especially pronounced when asking for grapes or anchovies, and his ability to make everyone around him feel valued and special and safe and loved. We love and miss you.