Jerome Kowal

Jerome Kowal, MD, Amasa B. Ford Professor Emeritus of Geriatric Medicine at Case Western Reserve University, passed away on December 23, 2015. Born in 1931 to Jack and Rhoda Kowal in New York, he received his BS at Tufts University and his MD at The Johns Hopkins University. He completed his residency and endocrinology training at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City and served in the United States Air Force as a Flight Surgeon and Pediatrician. His long and distinguished career as a basic scientist, clinician and medical educator spanned 40 years at both The Mount Sinai School of Medicine and Case Western Reserve University. He served as Chief of Medicine and Chief of Staff at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, and Associate Dean for Veteran Affairs at Case. In 1984, he became Chief of the Division of Geriatric Medicine, and was appointed Associate Dean for Geriatric Medicine in 1994. He was responsible for research and teaching that advanced the care of the elderly, and he trained two generations of clinicians and academic leaders in the field. His contributions have been recognized by numerous local, national and international awards, honors and professorships. A loving husband, father and grandfather, his primary joys were his family, a good shared meal and a humorous story. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Martine, his daughter Ann (Felix Brueck), his son Robert (Amy Ballew), and grandchildren Daniel, Alexander, Joshua, Lillian, Benjamin, Madeleine, Raleigh, Stephanie and Emily. He is also survived by his brother Martin and sisters Ronny (Marvin Starger) and Diane (Martin Soss). Funeral arrangements have been handled by BERKOWITZ-KUMIN-BOOKATZ MEMORIAL CHAPEL. A Memorial Service in celebration of his life will take place on February 27, 2016 at 10:00 AM in the Reinberger Auditorium at Severance Hall, 11001 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44106. Contributions in his memory may be made to The Hospice of the Western Reserve, The Cleveland Orchestra or Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.