Dr. Edward C. Loughlin Jr.

Dr. Edward C. Loughlin, Jr., 76, passed away Saturday, March 19, 2011. He was born on October 2, 1934 in Henderson, NC to the late Catherine Hight Loughlin and Edward C. Loughlin, Sr. He began his education with Henderson Public Schools before going on to The McCallie School. He was Phi Beta Kappa at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he finished in just three years. Dr. Loughlin went on to the University of Pennsylvania Medical School graduating in 1959 as one of the youngest students. After graduating from medical school, Dr. Loughlin continued his education with a fellowship at Saint Bartholomew Hospital in England. He then completed his surgical internship at Emory Hospital and his orthopedic residency at Grady Memorial Hospital.

While at UNC, he was a member of the Zeta Psi fraternity and a member of the Order of Gimghoul. Dr. Loughlin joined Funk, Wells, and Dimon which later became the Peachtree Orthopedic Clinic. He was on the Board at Grady Memorial Hospital for 21 years and Chairman for three of those years; The Edward C. Loughlin Building of Radiation and Oncology at Grady Memorial Hospital was named in his honor. He served nine years as Chairman of the Fulton-DeKalb Hospital Authority and was on the Board of Trustees for The McCallie School in Chattanooga, TN. Dr. Loughlin was past President of the Georgia Orthopedic Society and past Chairman of Orthopedics at Piedmont Hospital. He was a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and the Atlanta Clinical Society. Dr. Loughlin was awarded the Aven Cup and the Distinguished Service Award from the Medical Association of Atlanta. He was awarded the Distinguished Professional Achievement Award from Emory’s Medical Alumni Association as well as the Distinguished Alumni Award from The McCallie School. He was a member of the Piedmont Driving Club.

After retiring from the Peachtree Orthopedic Clinic, Dr. Loughlin continued to volunteer at Grady Memorial Hospital mentoring orthopedic residents. His love for Grady was evident to all who knew him and he was affectionately known as “Salty Doc” to many. He spent all of his free time at his beloved farm in Tiger, GA, where he pursued his love of the German language among other interests.

Dr. Loughlin is survived by his loving wife of 32 years, Linda Beth Irby Loughlin; six children: Lucy Loughlin Jarrett (Christopher), Edward Christopher Forbes Loughlin (Emeline), Elizabeth Loughlin Caldwell (James), Laura Irby Smith (Bert), Michael Semmes Irby, Jr. (Gregg), and Christopher Payne Irby (Elizabeth); ten grandchildren: Eliza Felder Caldwell, Edward Christopher Forbes Loughlin, Jr., James Leonidas Caldwell, III, Evan Wirt Thomasson Loughlin, Joshua Field Jarrett, Michael Semmes Irby, III, Georgia Hopkins Smith, Loughlin Irby Smith, Sarah Quinn Irby, and Reed Elizabeth Irby; and his brother David C. Loughlin (Cissy); and niece, Catherine Loughlin Stephenson (Taft).

Memorial services will be held at H.M. Patterson & Son, Spring Hill on Tuesday, the twenty-second day of March at eleven thirty in the morning. The family will receive friends at Patterson’s following the memorial. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Department of Orthopedics at Grady Memorial Hospital, 49 Jesse Hill Drive, Atlanta, GA 30303.

Arrangements under the direction of H.M. Patterson & Son, Spring Hill in Atlanta, GA.