Jonathan Kurland Wise

Dr. Jonathan Wise is remembered by his beloved family, friends, patients, and colleagues. He practiced medicine for over 50 years, before his retirement in 2020. His devoted wife, Althea Guste Wise, daughter of William Joseph Guste Jr., Louisiana Attorney General (1972-1992), lovingly supported him throughout his recent health struggles.

Jonathan Kurland Wise was born May 5, 1941 in Boston, Massachusetts, to Samuel Wise and Stella Kurland Wise. He was raised in Haverhill, Massachusetts with his brother and sister, Robert Wise and Deborah Feinstein. He graduated from Governor Dummer Academy (now The Governor’s Academy) in 1959. He graduated from Harvard College in 1963, and earned his medical degree from Harvard Medical School in 1967. He served in the U.S. Navy Medical Corps in Kotzebue, Alaska, followed by a residency at Yale-New Haven Medical Center in internal medicine from 1971-1973. He practiced medicine for over a decade in Arlington, Massachusetts, and then moved to New Orleans in 1986 where he ran a private practice and held a position as clinical professor at Tulane Medical School. While he embraced every aspect of New Orleans living with deep-fried alacrity, 37 years was not enough to shake his Boston accent.

Jon will be remembered for his groundbreaking work in the field of endocrinology, and his stalwart commitment to improving the lives of his patients. His research in the area of glucagon secretion helped advance the treatment of diabetes, and propelled him to balance patient care and research throughout his entire medical career.

Jon had a voracious appetite for learning. Philosophy, sociology, memoir, and fiction engaged his mind throughout his life. He was an avid book collector who savored the calm moments of reading and writing, and loved discussing great works with family and friends.

Jon experienced tremendous joy in his life with Allie. They explored restaurants both locally and across the globe, and delighted in sharing their favorite dishes with visiting family and friends. Jon was a culinary adventurer who never met a menu item he wasn’t willing to try. He took pride in sharing his love of food and travel with his four grandchildren, Haven Wise, Josephine Hess, Thomas Hess, and Elijah Hess.

The Diabetes and Metabolism practice that he established in New Orleans in the 1980s continues to thrive with doctors Tran, Talavera, Miller and Murray. Endocrinology would not be the same field without his contributions and innovations. Part of his legacy are the thousands of patients who are thankful for his dedication.

In addition to his wife, Jon is survived by his children, Alexander Wise and Sarah Kurland Hess. Jon was also a stepfather to seven children throughout his life, Joseph Bruno, Jr., Marian Bruno, Melanie Till, Suzanne Bruning, Karren Garrity, Daniel Bain, and Seth Bain.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that remembrances be made in the form of contributions to Insulin For Life USA (https://iflusa.org).