Herbert Kaufer

Dr. Herbert Kaufer passed away peacefully in his sleep on Memorial Day, May 26, 2025, at the age of 91. He was born in Detroit, Michigan on February 6, 1934, where he was raised by his parents, Samuel and Sally Kaufer, with his sister Helen. After lettering in Track and Field and Football, while exceling academically, at Central High School in Detroit, he graduated with honors from both the University of Michigan’s College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (B.S. 1954) and the University of Michigan Medical School (M.D. 1959). During medical school, on Saturday, September 29, 1956, he met the love of his life, Jane Loise Matlin, while watching U of M route UCLA at Michigan Stadium. After walking Jane home from the game, they started dating, quickly built a strong relationship, and became engaged on April 4, 1957. They were married in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Sunday, August 11, 1957.

After graduating from Medical School, Herbert was hired by the University of Michigan Medical School to complete his internship in Orthopedic Surgery. From 1964 to 1966 he served as a Medical Doctor in the United States Air Force at Scott Air Force Base, where he was a Captain and became a licensed pilot. After his military service he resumed work at the U of M’s Medical School and as the Director of Orthopedic Surgery at Wayne County General Hospital. In 1968, Dr. Kaufer became a Diplomat of the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery. In 1971, he became an Associate Professor of Surgery and in 1976, he became a fully tenured Professor of Surgery. During 1976, Dr. Kaufer also collaborated with Fellow Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr. Larry Matthews, MD, and Professor of Applied Mechanics, Dr. David Sonstegard, to develop and patent the “Spherocentric” knee, one of the original total knee replacements.

In 1990, Dr. Kaufer became the Chairman Emeritus of Orthopedic Surgery at University of Kentucky, where he expanded the orthopedic section, added a Sports Medicine Clinic and became the 41st President of the Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons. In July of 1998, Dr. Kaufer retired and moved back to Ann Arbor, with his wife, Jane where his love of patients, students and resolving orthopedic problems, made his initial retirement short lived.

After returning to Ann Arbor, he was appointed to the Internal Review Board of the University of Michigan Medical School to help steward research dollars while also collaborating with, and mentoring, surgeons at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Ann Arbor. He also co-authored, with colleagues Robert H. Fitzgerald, Jr., M.D. and Arthur L. Malkani, M.D., a comprehensive compilation of published studies and research reports titled “Orthopedics.” Additionally, he and Jane also became active members of the Advisory Board for Ann Arbor’s Downtown Development Authority, while they progressed from early members of Temple Beth Emeth, to a deeper understanding of Judaism at the Chabad House in Ann Arbor.

Dr. Kaufer was preceded in death by his wife, Jane M. Kaufer, his parents Samuel and Sally Kaufer and his sister Helen Indianer. Dr. Kaufer is survived by his two sons, Aaron Kaufer and Brian Kaufer and his grandchildren, Vanessa Kaufer, Samuel Kaufer, Noah Kaufer, Grace Kaufer, Cameron Strickland and Ayla Strickland. The family would like to thank the team of caregivers at Atria Park of Ann Arbor and AFC Memory Lane, who provided excellent care and exceptional kindness, as well as, the many teams of physicians who cared for him at the University of Michigan Medical Center when he needed them. Dr. Herbert Kaufer genuinely loved life with emphasis on his family, his work, Ann Arbor, the University of Michigan Medical School, watching Michigan football and basketball, and skiing in Sun Valley, Idaho. When asked in his later years what he would do differently if he could relive his life, he answered with one word, “nothing”.