John Henry Hirsh M.D.

Hirsh, John Henry M.D., F.A.C.S., 83, died June 15, at home surrounded by his loving family. He was brave and uncomplaining even as he fought a long battle against multiple sclerosis and finally cancer. He was born in New York City on December 7, 1921, the son of Frederick Rudolf Hirsh and Elsie Scheel Hirsh. He attended Mt. Herman School in Mass. and graduated from A.B. Davis High School in Mt. Vernon, NY in 1939. While he and his friends were at Radio City Music Hall seeing the movie "Suspicion" the news came over the teletype that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor. It changed all of their lives. He enlisted in the Army and served his country in India as part of the China, Burma, India campaign. After the war he graduated from the University of Florida with a B.S. degree in 1949. He then earned his M.D. degree from New York Medical College in 1953. He then interned and did his surgical residency at Grasslands Hospital in Valhalla, NY, where he met his dear wife, Jean, a student nurse. He came to Ft. Lauderdale in 1958 pulling a U-Haul trailer full of books. His first job was looking after the Beach Hospital for Dr. Amato, the founder and former Mt. Vernon resident, who was on vacation in Italy. He then had a private surgical practice in Ft. Lauderdale for 30 years. He was honest, enjoyed a good story, crossword puzzles, and all things humorous. He loved his family, his patients, and his friends. He especially enjoyed the conversations in the surgeon's lounge at Broward General Hospital from which he thought all wisdom sprang. His biggest interest outside of medicine was creative writing, He wrote many articles, short stories, letters to the editor, and especially poetry. He played bridge at Ft. Lauderdale Bridge Club and even wrote a few poems about the experience. He is survived by his beloved wife, Jean, and their four children. Karen Meredith (Mike), Laura Hirsh, Jennifer Wiley (Doug) and John Hirsh (Tracy) and their 10 grandchildren, Daniel, Alyssa, Andrew, Sarah, Laura, Kristen, Katherine, Sophie, John and Emma. A Memorial Service will be held at 10 AM Saturday June 26th at 1st Presbyterian Church, 401 SE 15 Ave., Ft. Lauderdale.