V. Dean, M.D. Schwartz

v. dean, m.d. schwartz

May 11, 1924 ~ April 12, 2012

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Schwartz, V. Dean, M.D., 87, retired physician, passed away April 12, 2012. Rosary will be 6:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 17, and Funeral Mass 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, April 18, both at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. Dean was born May 11, 1924, in Leonardville, Riley County, Kansas. As a youth he lived various times in Olsburg, Topeka, Manhattan, and Blue Rapids, Kansas. He was class valedictorian when he graduated from Blue Rapids High School. He was a member of the National Honor Society and a Summerfield Scholarship recipient. He joined the United States Army Reserve and was assigned to the Army Specialized Training Program to complete his undergraduate core requirements at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut. He served in the United States Army in both World War II and during the Korean Conflict where he received a battlefield promotion to Captain, Medical Corp. within the Medical Division, First Cavalry Division. He married Eileen Ruth Bonicamp January 8, 1948 and they settled in Wichita where they raised their family. He entered his medical internship at St. Francis Hospital, Wichita, Kansas, and entered the general practice of medicine in Wichita in 1949. Although he took the surgical preceptorship to fulfill requirements for membership in the American College of Surgeons, family practice medicine was his vocation and he remained a family doctor for 46 years. He opened his first office on his own at 5205 East Central in Wichita in 1950. He was very devoted to the success and development of St. Francis Hospital. In 1957 he was made Chairman of the Department of General Practice at St. Francis Hospital, a position he held for five years, and began his tenure on the Executive Committee of the medical staff for the hospital which extended for sixteen years. He established the general practitioner residency program at St. Francis Hospital, the third such program in the United States to receive AMA approval. He was President and Chief of Staff in 1972 and in 1976 was elected to the Board of Directors of St. Francis Hospital and remained on the Board for five years. He also served as Chairman of the Planning Committee and Chairman of the Department of Family Practice at the hospital. From 1973 until 1989 he served in the Student Health Service at Wichita State University. During various periods of his life in Wichita, Dean and Eileen were members of the Blessed Sacrament Catholic parish, the Magdalen parish and the St. Thomas Aquinas parish. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, and in 1964 received Papal knighthood to the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. He was President of Serra Club in 1969. He found the time to pursue activities outside of work and church. In the earlier years of his life he collected stamps, coins and Native American artifacts, enjoyed fly-fishing, horseback riding and gardening. He enjoyed woodcarving, pencil drawing, and even built some items of furniture. With his trusty Canon camera he amassed an extensive collection of photographs of Kansas and Midwest wildflowers. Baking and gourmet cooking were also hobbies. In 1984 he became a member of the Kansas Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, and, after holding local office, was in 1989 the President of the Kansas Society SAR. He became interested in all things Scottish, and in 1989 he was a co-founder of the Scottish Society of Wichita. He was a member of numerous historical and hereditary organizations and in 1996 was President of Midwest Historical and Genealogical Society in Wichita. He was preceded in death by his parents, R. B. Schwartz and Gladys Klocke Schwartz Hill. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Eileen, his children, William Dean (Debbie) Schwartz, Denver, CO., John B. (Pat) Schwartz, Blue Rapids, KS., Elizabeth A. (Doran) Cole, Rose Hill, KS., and Gloria E. Kemper, Emporia, KS., his brother, Robert W. Schwartz, Lawrence, KS., and by grandchildren: Emily, Jonathan, Rose, Eileen Lucy and Elizabeth. Memorials have been established with the Via Christi Foundation, 723 N. McLean, Wichita, KS, 67203 and Wichita Catholic Diocese, 424 N. Broadway, Wichita, KS, 67202. Downing Lahey Mortuary East is in charge of arrangements. Rosary will be 6:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 17, at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church.

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  1. Dr. Schwartz was our family physician from the early fifties until he retired. In that capacity I came to know him as knowledgable. wise, kind and a good listener…all the qualities that a good physician should have. I recall that he even made a housecall once or twice. My sincere sympathy to your family.

  2. Dr. Schwartz, was a great doctor, I went to him from the time I was born to the time he retired. I have never found a Dr. like him.. They just don’t make Doctors like him anymore. He saved my life twice and sent me to the best Doctors to help me.!! I have nothing but kind and gracious words about him. I am sure you will miss him alot. Now he can go help God in other ways. God Bless

  3. Gratitude fills my heart as I was able to say farewell to the mortal part of my brother in arms and in Christ. Through V. Schwartz’ hands many were comforted and helped to heal with The Lord’s mercy, and even though Adam’s choice brought death into our lives, through Jesus Christ, whom The Father sent, all will be ressurrected just like Jesus was, with glory and joy.

  4. Dear Mrs. Schwartz, Lisa and siblings, Dr. Schwartz was our family doctor in the honorable old-time sense of the man who knew the family background and history and cared for each individual member. We always went to him first, knowing that, if he felt he needed outside help, he would either take out his black book and look something up or refer us to a specialist, who might know more about our particular ailment but certainly didn’t care as much about the whole person as Doc Schwartz did. Doc and Dad had such a good time talking together that, when Dad returned from a check-up and Mom asked him, ‘How did it go?’ Dad responded, ‘Oh, he’s fine.’ Mom said, ‘HE’S fine? I sent you to find out how YOU were!’ Dr. Schwartz had a wide variety of interests which delighted not only my father, who used to say that he, himself, had a ‘rag-bag mind,’ but my young sons, when they went to Kwan Court with their grandparents and the Schwartzes. And son Yoseph still remembers how Dr. Schwartz downed the oriental mustard. What a zest for food and for life! Even on Sunflower Lane, Doc retained a knack for witty responses and a sparkle in his eye! We share in your mourning of Dr. Schwartz’s death and join with you in celebrating his life! He made a positive difference in our lives!


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