John C. Kelleher, M.D., 1918 to 2003

Plastic surgery lost a remarkable person of excellence, original thinking, and teaching to complications from a stroke on August 8, 2003. Born in Youngstown, Ohio, on September 7, 1918, John C. Kelleher grew up in Lorain, Ohio, excelled in sports, graduated from high school, and became a member of his high school’s hall of fame. He went to Notre Dame, where he played football as quarterback and famously kicked a field goal to beat Big 10 powerhouse Purdue 3-0 in 1939. He regularly attended Notre Dame games, organizing tours of family and friends until shortly before his death. His medical career began at Jefferson, from which he graduated in 1944. He served during World War II as a captain in Medical Corps in Goose Bay, Newfoundland. He served residencies in Detroit, Michigan, and King’s County, Brooklyn, New York, and had a hand fellowship with Willy White. He moved to Toledo, Ohio, in 1951 to become the first plastic surgeon in that community because he found a need there. In 1953, he assembled a group of orthodontists, ear, nose, and throat specialists, speech therapists, and social workers to establish a cleft palate program, which persists today. In 1968, with Drs. Jim Sullivan and George Baibak, he established a residency in plastic and reconstructive surgery and taught approximately 90 residents until his 70s. To quote one of his early residents, “We are not just better plastic surgeons for working for John and the group but better doctors in the true sense of the word. The group set the bar very high. Naturally, you try very hard to clear it!” He was knowledgeable and innovative. He pioneered transposing digits to reconstruct thumb loss, both traumatic and congenital. He pioneered and promoted thin pedicle tissue flaps to provide more functional tissue coverage. His program established a dedicated eight-bed burn unit at St. Vincent Medical Center in 1968. The method of burn scar excision on the plane of the deep scar for functional and cosmetic skin graft reconstruction was developed by John. He lived trying to improve. His mantra was “don’t just do another one, do a better one.” He continued his nonprofessional life in sports–-skiing, golfing, and playing squash–-and excelled in all. Although plastic surgery is often equated with cosmetic procedures, reconstructive surgery dominated his practice. Education was his greatest love (after Notre Dame). To quote Harry J. Buncke, “He was one of the most outstanding plastic surgeons of the century.” His contributions and involvement in the medical community included being chief of staff at Mercy Hospital in Toledo and president of the Lucas County Academy of Medicine. He was on the board of directors of the American Board of Plastic Surgery from 1972 to 1978 and was president of the American Association of Plastic Surgeons in 1986. He had an assistant clinical professorship and appointment at the Medical University of Ohio at Toledo. It would be impossible to catalog here his involvement in numerous local and national committees and his many publications in the national literature. He thought in broad brushstrokes about our profession and humanity. John and Rosemary (Rosie), his wife of 63 years, had nine children. He loved inspiring, teaching, coaching, and enjoying their activities, from school to backyard football. His eldest son, John, became a plastic surgeon. In later life, he enjoyed his grandchildren and great grandchildren with typical grandparent pride. John is much missed by all. The community and medical profession have lost a dedicated pioneer, leader, innovator, teacher, and, above all, a true gentleman physician. I am proud and privileged and made more to have been his associate and friend for nearly 40 years.

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