Dr. Robert J. Huszar

PORTSMOUTH - Dr. Robert J. Huszar, of Portsmouth, passed away at Webster at Rye Assisted Living Community on Saturday, July 14, 2018 where he had been a resident for the past two years. Dr. Huszar was born in New Britain, Conn., on February 10, 1927.

He received an undergraduate degree magna cum laude from Boston University in 1949 and a medical degree from the State University of New York College of Medicine at Syracuse in 1953.

Following an internship at Boston City Hospital, he served in the Air Force. He then completed his residency at Saint Francis Hospital in Hartford, Conn., and accepted a position there as Director of Research. While at Saint Francis he developed a system for the radio transmission of EKG signals to a hospital from an ambulance (the Cardio Alert) and collaborated on the development of an ultrafiltered air curtain for the isolation of low-resistance patients (the Steri-Closure).

From 1974 to 1989 he was the Medical Director, Emergency Medical Services, New York State Department of Health. In 1982, Northeastern University recognized him for his outstanding contribution to the enhancement of paramedic training. Over the years he authored a series of books on cardiac care, most notably Emergency Cardiac Care, Basic Dysrhythmias Interpretation and Management, and Early Defibrillation. He was an Associate Fellow of the American College of Cardiology.

In his personal life he was a classical music aficionado, would-be violinist, dedicated gardener and crossword puzzle master.

He leaves his wife of 66 years, Jean Robertson Huszar; four daughters, Marta Huszar, Paula Merkle (Fred), Wendy Alison Huszar (Bill Huffer) and Jennifer Pauly (Larry); and five grandchildren, Natalie, David, Nadia, Max and Lindsay.

SERVICES: A private celebration of life will be held at a later date. Arrangements are by the Remick & Gendron Funeral Home-Crematory, Hampton.