Obituary of Jack Ferlinz

Obituary for Jack Ferlinz, M.D. Dr Jack Ferlinz, a cardiologist, died Thursday, May 18, 2017 at Covenant HealthCare in Saginaw, Michigan. He was 75, and had homes in Gaylord, MI and Carpinteria, CA. Dr. Ferlinz was born in Austria and emigrated to the United States to attend Harvard College. He earned an M.B.A. from Northeastern University, Boston MA in 1965 and completed his medical degree at Boston University School of Medicine in 1969. Dr. Ferlinz retired in 2007 from his position as Chief of Medicine and Associate Chief of Staff for Clinical Medicine at the Aleda E. Lutz, VA Medical Center, Saginaw, MI. Prior to this position he served as the Director of Medical Research and Medical Education at the Hamad Medical Corp. in Doha, Qatar while also working to establish a medical school in Qatar. Prior positions included serving as Chairman of the Department of Internal Medicine at Providence Hospital in Southfield, MI, Chief of Medicine at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, IL, and Director of Cardiac Catheterization Laboratories at the VAMC in Long Beach, CA. Following the completion of his NIH-sponsored Cardiology Fellowship at Brigham/Harvard in Boston, MA., his academic appointments included professorships of medicine at the University of California, Irvine, CA, the Chicago Medical School, Clinical Professor of Medicine at the Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit and at the Michigan State University College of Medicine. His post-graduate medical training included a medical internship at Boston University Medical Center, and medial residencies at Dartmouth Medical Center in Hanover, NH and University of Miami Medical Center, Miami, FL. Dr. Ferlinz was a prolific medical author and enjoyed decades of offering medical presentations not only in the United States but in Europe, Asia, South America, and Australia. His research included the development of a geometric model for the right ventricular volume determination, early research into the use of verapamil, a calcium channel blocker, and description of coronary artery disease among African Americans, especially in women. While never declaring a hobby, he read extensively and could as easily discuss Roman history, Julius Caesar, the historical Jesus, World War II battles, and astrophysics as he could discuss current topics in cardiovascular medicine. He enjoyed photography and cooking, particularly savoring international cuisines and regional USA specialties. His close friends will remember his intellect, his fondness for wide variety of esoterica, his quick humor, his sartorial flair, and stories of his extensive travels. Some of his favorite trips were a Kenyan safari, exploring the caves in Cappadocia, Turkey, climbing Mt. Rainier, Mt. Shasta, and Mt. Katahdin, and snorkeling in the Red Sea in what is now Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. By far, however, his fondest memories were the many "Oster Fest" New Year's trips punctuated with slides of that year's trip anywhere on the globe. He is survived by his wife, Dr. Suzanne Savoy; his daughter, Sandra Valenti of North Reading, MA, and three grandchildren. No funeral service is planned. Donations to the American Heart Association (https://donatenow.heart.org; 1-800-242-8721) in his memory would be appreciated. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Deisler Funeral Home, 2233 Hemmeter Rd. (off State). Please share your thoughts and memories with the family through www.DeislerFuneralHome.com