Dr. Kurt Alexander de Crinis

1927 - 2011

Dr. Kurt Alexander de Crinis left this world on July 22, 2011 surrounded by family at his home in Rancho Mirage, Calif. Born on April 24, 1927 in Graz, Austria to Brunhilde and Dr. Kurt de Crinis, he spent his boyhood skiing and climbing in the Alps. Blessed with the heart, hands, and mind of a healer, Kurt graduated from the Karl Franzen Medical School in Graz, Austria in 1950, where he became a licensed physician. In 1954, Kurt immigrated to the United States in pursuit of his childhood sweetheart Edith Maria Gruber. They married in 1955 in New York City. While in New York, Kurt worked at a number of hospitals and was a Research Fellow at NYU College of Medicine until 1958. After the birth of their first child, Curt, in 1956, he moved his family to California in 1960, trading in the skyscrapers of New York City for the open skies of the Mojave Desert so he could be near the skiing and hiking he loved. In 1961, his second child, Mona, was born in Ridgecrest, Calif. Two years later, Kurt became Board Certified in Internal Medicine. He relocated to Palm Springs in 1967, drawn by the majesty of the San Jacinto Mountains, where he spent much of his free time riding the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway and exploring local trails. Kurt worked at Palm Springs Medical Clinic before opening his own practice in 1974. He was Board Certified in Cardiovascular Diseases in 1977 and held numerous appointments, memberships and fellowships to scientific and medical organizations, including Fellow, American College of Cardiology; Fellow, American College of Chest Physicians; American Medical Association; and many more. Kurt's appreciation of the desert and its people was as vast and wide as the desert itself. His affable nature and affinity for people allowed him to enjoy extraordinary relationships with patients and their families. Even strangers were easily charmed by his generosity, humor, kindness, and wit. His considerable commitment to the valley was evident in the many organizations he supported, including the Palm Springs Opera Guild, Palm Springs Art Museum, Palm Springs Friends of the Philharmonic, the Stroke Recovery Center, and others. A regular attendee of galas and parties, he and his wife quickly gained a reputation for their exquisite ballroom dancing. Kurt was also an avid tennis player and a longtime member of the Racquet Club and Palm Springs Tennis Club. In 2000, he and Edith moved to Rancho Mirage, where he enjoyed the tennis and companionship of The Springs Country Club. Kurt cared deeply for those he worked and played with and was genuinely loved by colleagues, friends, and family. He was especially proud of his granddaughter, Alexa de Crinis. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Edith; his son, Curt (Jackie) of Maui, Hawaii; daughter, Mona (Lori) of Palm Springs; sisters, Susanne Wilkins of Guam and Liselotte Wallner of Austria; granddaughter, Alexa and step-granddaughters, Madison and Morgan; niece, Petra; and nephews, Thomas and Christopher. He was preceded in death by his sisters, Elsie and Herta, both of Austria. There will be a Celebration of Life on Sunday, July 31, 2011 from 3-6:00 PM in the Bougainvillea Room of the Palm Springs Tennis Club (upstairs from Spencer's Restaurant), 701 W. Baristo Road in Palm Springs. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Stroke Recovery Center (www.strokerecoverycenter.org) or the Weil Institute of Critical Care (www.weiliccm.org).