E. Donald Kotchick M.D.

1937 - 2021

E. Donald Kotchick, MD, died Wednesday evening at home surrounding by his family and longtime companion. He was the husband of the late Patricia A. Kotchick.

Born in Plainfield, New Jersey, on June 1, 1937, the son of the late George and Ann (Fedrick) Kotchick, he was raised in Scranton, attending Eli Whitney #6 School and South Scranton Junior High School. He attended and graduated from Scranton Preparatory School, class of 1955, where he played basketball and baseball and was a member of the 1954-55 Lynett Tournament championship team. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Scranton, class of 1959, and from Thomas Jefferson Medical College in 1963. He served his internship in family medicine at Thomas Fitzgerald Mercy Hospital in Darby, Pa., where he also met his future wife, Patricia Ann McCafferty. They were married Oct. 12, 1963. He served two years as captain in the United States Air Force at Guenther and Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, Gouldsboro, N.C., where he was awarded a commendation medal for outstanding service.

He returned to Northeastern Pennsylvania to practice family medicine in the Abingtons for 32 years. After retiring from private practice, he served as the chief medical officer of Mercy Hospital, Scranton, for the next 14 years, retiring in 2012.

He was appointed to the Board of Trustees of Scranton Preparatory School, serving two terms, as well as the Board of Trustees of Mercy Hospital. He was a founding member of both the Heritage Alliance of Family Physicians in Lackawanna County and the Church of St. Gregory's. He was past president of the Lackawanna County Academy of Family Practice and physician trustee of the Women's Health Alliance.

He was a third degree member of the Knights of Columbus, Abington chapter, and a fourth degree member of the St. Ann's Assembly. He was a lifetime member of the American Academy of Family Practice and a member of the Scranton Country Club for more than 50 years.

He was the epitome of the family physician. An exceptional diagnostician, he treated his patients compassionately, while making them feel at ease. He will be forever remembered for his unique fashion sense and his witty sense of humor. He was truly one of a kind, devoting his life to his family, friends and his patients.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 42 years, Patricia Ann; and his sister, Carol Ann Simon, R.N.

The family would like to thank all the aides, nurses and physicians who showed tremendous compassion throughout his care over the past several months.

Also surviving are his six children, E. Donald Jr. and his wife, Kathy, Media, Pa.; Robert M. and his wife, Dr. Beth, Towson, Md.; Mary Ellen and her husband, Dr. Michael Leardi, West Chester; Dr. Christopher J. and his wife, Bridget, North Abington Twp.; Gregory F. and his wife, Ellen, Clarks Green; and Patricia Anne and her husband, Jerry Jones, Dunmore; his loving companion of 13 years, Karen Magnotta, Dunmore; 19 grandchildren, Mary Kate, Emily and Gregory Kotchick, Ben and Graham Kotchick, Kathryn Henslee, Michael Patrick, Brendan, Matthew and Cecelia Leardi, Grace and Liam Kotchick, Reagan, Jack and Peyton Kotchick, Patrick and Aidan McDonnell, and Adeline and Emilia Jones; and his four great-grandchildren, Emma, Billy, Tucker and Connor Henslee.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, Sept. 21, at 11 a.m. in the Church of St. Gregory, 330 North Abington Road, Clarks Green. Entombment at Cathedral Cemetery, Scranton.

Friends may call Monday, Sept. 20, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Albert O'Donnell Funeral Home, 2025 Green Ridge St., Dunmore. Friends may also call at the church from 10 a.m. until Mass time the day of the funeral.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Kotchick Family Endowment at Scranton Preparatory School, 1000 Wyoming Ave., Scranton, 18510.