Obituary
Obituary of Richard T. Purdy
Richard Purdy MD Richard T. Purdy MD, 83, passed peacefully February 2, 2014, in the loving presence of his wife, Gloria, their children, and his sister-in-law, Lois, at his Norwalk, CT, home. Richard was born October 13, 1930, New York, NY, the son of Walter and Mary Purdy. He graduated from Manhattan College in 1953, New York Medical College in 1957, and completed his surgical internship at Bellevue Hospital, Columbia Surgical Division, in 1958, all in New York City. He completed his surgical residency at New York Medical College, Metropolitan Hospital Center, from 1958 to 1962, in New York City. Richard married Gloria Turel, of Brooklyn, NY, in New York City, April 8, 1962, after a courtship, he as a doctor, and she a nurse. Together they embarked for Taipei, Taiwan, where Dr. Purdy served as Lieutenant Commander, United States Navy, as Chief of Surgery, U.S. Navy Surgical Hospital, until 1964. He and Gloria often reminisced fondly of this cherished adventure abroad, the first of many, where they welcomed the birth of their first and second children. Upon their return to America, and his honorable discharge from the Navy in June 1964, Richard was appointed Associate Attending in Surgery, Flower Fifth Avenue Hospital in New York City, a post he held until 1977, and the first of his many New York City surgical and academic appointments. In 1971, Dr. Purdy was appointed Chief of Vascular Surgery, Metropolitan Hospital, and Associate Clinical Professor of Surgery, New York Medical College. In 1973, Richard was further appointed Director of Surgery, Jewish Memorial Hospital. All posts he held until 1977, when Richard became Chief of Vascular Surgery at Lancaster General Hospital, Lancaster, PA, where he and Gloria moved to raise their five children. Dr. Purdy served the rest of his medical career at Lancaster General. The International Cardiovascular Society elected Richard to membership in 1979. The Society is composed of vascular surgeons who are recognized by their peers as being experts in their field. His many other medical society memberships included the New York State Medical Society, the New York Society for Cardiovascular Surgery, and the Pennsylvania State Medical Society. Richard earned his board certifications from the American College of Surgeons in 1965, and the American Board of Surgery in 1968, which also granted him Special Qualifications in General Vascular Surgery, in 1984. In 2009, Richard and Gloria moved to Norwalk to be nearer their youngest daughter Jennifer, her husband, and grandchildren, all of Westport, CT. Richard is remembered as a truly innovative surgeon and empathic physician who loved the artful problem solving of his scientific profession. He was an avid golfer, lover of art, wine, and the family dogs, and a lifelong reader and thinker. He was most happy as a husband, father, and friend, at the family's longtime summer home in Nantucket, MA. He will be dearly missed by his wife, Gloria, and sister-in-law Lois Turel, both of Norwalk, CT; their eldest daughter Lisa Thompson, her husband Stephen Thompson, and grandsons Zachary and Caleb Thompson, all of Huntington Station, NY; daughter Kimberly Purdy of Elizabeth, NJ; daughter Jennifer Purdy, her husband Brendan Byrne, and grandchildren Tova and Declan Byrne, all of Westport, CT; eldest son Colin Purdy of San Diego, CA; and son Mark Purdy and his fiancée Tammy Alana, both of Las Vegas, NV. Richard's elder brother, Walter Purdy, preceded him in death. Family and friends celebrated Richard's life and passing February 8 at the Westport, CT, home of his daughter Jennifer and her husband Brendan. Arrangements are entrusted to Nutmeg State Cremation Society. Condolences may be posted to nutmegcremation.com. Read Dr. Richard Purdy's Obituary and Guestbook on nutmegcremation.com.
Saturday
8
February
Celebration of Life
Saturday, February 8, 2014
The Home of his daughter Jennifer & Her husband Brendan
Westport, Connecticut, United States
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Stamford, Connecticut, United States
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